The Argentine U-23 team beat its counterpart from Paraguay 2-0, at the Néstor Díaz Pérez stadium in Lanús, within the framework of the second preparatory friendly for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
After what was the resounding 4-0 victory against the Guaraníes last Saturday at the Tomás Adolfo Ducó stadium in Parque Patricios, Javier Mascherano’s team faced Paraguay again but at the “Granate” home and behind closed doors.
Simeone’s first goal:
/Home Embedded Code/
/End Embedded Code/
The coach opted for an alternative eleven with only two immovable starters up front: Thiago Almada from Atlanta United of the United States and Luciano Gondou from Argentinos Juniors. The team was completed by Leandro Brey from Boca in goal; Joaquín García and Damián Fernández from Vélez, Bruno Amione from Santos Laguna from Mexico and Julio Soler from Lanús forming the line of four in defense; Alan Varela of Porto of Portugal, Santiago Hezze of Olympiacos of Greece, Giuliano Simeone of Deportivo Alavés of Spain and Thiago Fernández of Vélez in midfield.
On a sunny Monday afternoon in the south of Greater Buenos Aires, it was the son of ‘Cholo’ Simeone who opened the scoring after 35 minutes of play. After a great collective play in which a good number of touches were put together, Almada put in the deep pass for Soler to overflow on the left who put the center to the far post where the Deportivo Alavés player, alone, headed across and made it 1-0.
Simeone’s second goal:
/Home Embedded Code/
/End Embedded Code/
Already in the second stage, at 10 minutes, Simeone scored again to increase the advantage of the Argentine team. After an aerial dispute for the ball on the left, the ball fell to the midfielder at the height of the crescent of the Paraguayan area and he took a powerful shot to the middle of the goal that goalkeeper Rodrigo Frutos slipped out of his hands and could not stop. .
Now, Mascherano’s team will continue its preparation for what will be the debut in the Olympic Games on Wednesday, July 24 against Morocco. Immediately, the Argentine National Team will travel to France on July 10 to settle in the interior of the French country.
Although it is not ruled out that other friendlies will be organized, what is known is that the “Albiceleste” will face the French team Rouen 1899, on July 15, and the Guinean team, on July 19.
