Argentina 3 – 0 Guatemala [Friendly] Highlights 2018 Giovanni Simeone and fellow debutant Gonzalo Martinez scored on their bows in the absence of Argentina superstar Lionel Messi in LA.
Giovanni Simeone marked his debut with a goal as a Lionel Messi-less Argentina outclassed Guatemala 3-0 in an international friendly.
Messi was not included as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona superstar reportedly considers his future following Argentina’s tumultuous World Cup campaign, which ended in the last 16.
Jorge Sampaoli lost his job as a result but interim boss Lionel Scaloni fielded a new-look line-up and reaped the benefits, albeit against minnows Guatemala in Los Angeles on Friday.
Debutant Gonzalo Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso and Simeone – the son of Atletico Madrid head coach and former Argentina midfielder Diego – scored their maiden goals in a one-sided first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Mauro Icardi and Paolo Dybala were on the bench for Argentina’s first match since their loss to France at the World Cup, with Simeone, Martinez, Exequiel Palacios and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli making their bows.
Argentina and Guatemala were separated by 135 positions in the FIFA rankings and the gulf in class was evident as the South American giants dominated.
Ramiro Funes Mori spurned a great chance to open the scoring in the 15th minute when his powerful header sailed wide of the post, while Cristian Pavon and Polacios also came close for Argentina.
Argentina eventually made the breakthrough approaching the half-hour mark thanks to Martinez, who stepped up and converted a penalty after Lo Celso’s shot struck the hand of Elias Vasquez.
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