Argentina ease past Iraq 4-0 in an international friendly

Argentina didn’t miss the services of their talismanic forward Lionel Messi as they eased past Iraq 4-0 in an international friendly on Tuesday in Riyadh.

Lionel Scaloni, the interim coach fielded a second-string side with a lot of young talent. Only defender Ramiro Funes Mori, goalkeeper Sergio Romero and forward Paulo Dybala were the experienced ones in the playing XI.

The new talent in the Argentine side, however, did not fail to impress with Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez scoring the opener in the 18th minute with a header from a cross sent in by Marcos Acuna from the left flank.

The second goal came after the break through Roberto Pereyra who fired one into the back of the net after completing an intelligent one-two with Dybala. The Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan was kept busy all throughout the match and its effect showed when the third goal was scored by Fiorentina defender German Pezzella with a header.
The weak Iraq defence was further exposed when Franco Cervi tearing through the wall to score Argentina’s fourth goal, which came in stoppage time.

This dominating win would be no less than a good preparation before they face South-American rivals Brazil next Tuesday.

Image credit- Match Day