No Messi, no problem as Argentina beat Iraq 4-0
Argentina shrugged off the absence of Lionel Messi as a second-string team eased past Iraq 4-0 in an international friendly in Riyadh on Thursday.
Argentina’s Paulo Dybala (R) is marked by Iraq’s Osama Rashid during a friendly football match between Argentina and Iraq at the Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh on October 11, 2018. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)
Interim coach Lionel Scaloni used the match to blood a host of new talent with goalkeeper Sergio Romero, defender Ramiro Funes Mori and striker Paulo Dybala the only experienced players in the line-up.
Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a near-post header from a left wing cross by Marcos Acuna.
Roberto Pereyra grabbed the second in the 53rd minute when the Watford player finished off a smart one-two with Dybala.
Fiorentina defender German Pezzella headed the third goal from a corner past over-worked Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan with Franco Cervi breaking through the defence for the fourth goal in stoppage time.
Argentina will face traditional rivals Brazil, also in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday.
Brazil, meanwhile, face the Saudis on Friday.
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
For more news your way
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
