The Argentine team beat Costa Rica 3-1 this Tuesday with a comeback victorywith goals from Ángel Di María, Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martínez, again without the injured Lionel Messi and with a performance that went even better after the break.
After beating El Salvador 3-0 in Philadelphia last Friday, The world champion team resolved this friendly match played at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles without major problems.
The first half was not good for Lionel Scaloni’s team, very ineffective, and they went to the locker room with the result against Manfred Ugalde’s goal.
Costa Rica, more organized and practical to start
The Albiceleste was clearly dominant from the first minute, taking care of the ball, without rushing to reach Keylor Navas’ area and involving all his players. For the first 15 minutes, the only opportunities to shoot on goal were blocked by defenders.
The Ticos, very organized, reflected the discipline that their coach, Gustavo Alfaro, has begun to establish. Although the Argentine coach counted his first two games coached in 2023 as defeats, this year he had won both games against El Salvador and Honduras, which qualified for the Copa América.
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas excelled in the first shots that reached his goal: Garnacho’s shot from no angle blocked him and the rebound favored Lo Celso, whose shot Cascante took off the line. Shortly after, with a header from Otamendi, The PSG goalkeeper saved the Costa Ricans again.
On the counterattack, Costa Rica took the lead in the 34th minute. A header clearance enabled Ugalde to run, enable Álvaro Zamora and The rebound returned to the Spartak Moscow striker, who beat goalkeeper Walter Benítez first.
Before the break, the Ticos were able to increase, thanks to a header from Francisco Calvo.
champion pride
Say Maria He did magic at the start of the second half. He reached the heart of the area with a change of pace and gave it to Enzo Fernández who, with a volley, He adjusted it but Navas took it out with a great stretch.
‘Fideo’ himself had to take care of the tie, who He beat his former teammate at PSG from a set piece. He gave it a perfect curve to put it in the angle and make Navas’ stretch useless. It was his 30th goal with the national team.
It was the best stretch for the world champions. A minute after the tying goal Julián Álvarez had it but he sent it high.
Mac Allister put the Albiceleste ahead. After a corner, Otamendi rose, deflected it but Tagliafico saved it with his shoulder and It was left for the final shot after hitting the crossbar.
In just four minutes Argentina came back. It was the second goal for the national team by Mac Allister, who was replaced by Leandro Paredes as soon as he scored. Scaloni’s first rotations took place.
The sentence came in the 77th minute, after an action led by Di María. The play started on the right, from him to Rodrigo De Paul, who gave it to Lautaro Martínez with the outside of his foot and the Italian Inter player converted it with a cross shot.
Nico González had the fourth, after a gallop he surpassed Navas and with the ball already entering and The celebrating Argentine saved him on the line from Quirós.
Costa Rica had remained a mere spectator before a fantastic second half from Scaloni’s side.
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