With Lionel Messi starting as an unusual inhabitant of the substitute bench, Argentina beat Ecuador 1-0 this Sunday at the Soldier Field stadium in Chicago, in the first of the two friendlies that will be played in the United States before the Copa América. Angel Di María scored the only goal for Lionel Scaloni’s team in the first half.
From the outset, the National Team showed its typical touch and circulation game against a rival that could not get hold of the ball, until Paredes complicated the exit with a bad transfer that Caicedo took advantage of, although then the play fortunately was diluted.
From there, and thanks to some touches from Kendry Páez, the pressure and temperament of Caicedo himself – who received the first yellow card for sweeping Lautaro from behind – Ecuador moved forward a few meters and made the Argentines a little uncomfortable. .
Because the offensive trident Di María-Martínez-Alvarez could not connect, Acuña (who tried from a distance a couple of times without luck) and Montiel did not finish prospering on their sides, Lo Celso was very contained and De Paul served – as always – as a spare wheel for everyone, although it did not weigh so much in the creation.
The match lacked any goals, until just after 25 minutes the first dangerous action occurred after Lisandro Martínez, in full attacking position, caught a rebound in the opposite area and a sudden half turn caused the appearance of Galíndez, the Argentine goalkeeper who was nationalized as an Ecuadorian, who immediately committed his teammate Franco to a short exit, but things did not go any further.
Argentina warned when Montiel took the spear, went to the rival field and gave way to Di María, who with a masterful slap wanted to enable Lautaro, but the Neroazzurro leader – who the Ecuadorians did not give a single step – could not anticipate.
And immediately, De Paul found “Cuti” Romero, who in an attacker’s suit snubbed two defenders and provided a remarkable pass to Di María, who entering from the right scored the opening goal, which meant his 30th goal with the National Team. As if that were not enough, before the break, a free kick from the other Rosario captain made the horizontal tremble.
Messi received the ribbon from Di María 10 minutes into the match before a shaken crowd that cheered him. And La Pulga reciprocated that encouragement with two goal passes with his stamp for the also admitted Enzo Fernández.
Defender Franco generated the first serious intervention in the entire match by “Dibu” Martínez: little for Ecuador, which could not withstand the work of Argentina, which was able to extend the result in the end with “Nico” González, another entry, and a Messi’s free kick that went high.
