The Argentine soccer team defeated its counterpart from Ecuador 1-0 in a friendly preparatory match for the Copa América United States-2024, played this Sunday at the Soldier Field stadium in Chicago.
Ángel Di María (minute 39) scored the goal for the victory of the Albiceleste, which will seek to defend the title won in the Copa América in Brazil-2021 in the United States.
Without Lionel Messi among the starters, Argentina assumed control of the ball in the first minutes, but possession was of little use to them, because Ecuador pressed high and forced them to search with balls, in an initial stretch in which the Albiceleste looked uncomfortable.
La Tri, in addition, seemed mobile in their counterattack movements, with a good job from Moisés Caicedo in the middle, although not always well accompanied, and some appearances by the youthful Kendry Páez, who together with Minda and Sarmiento sought to put pressure on the exit. Argentina.
Only after 20 minutes did the world champion have his first clear arrival, in a left-footed shot from Di María that passed close to the right upright, and from then on the albiceleste dominance began to be more noticeable, and Argentina came closer to scoring in a rebound that Lisandro Martínez touched and hit with power, but Galíndez saved his fence by pure reflex.
Given the speed that Ecuador imposed, the Albiceleste needed to increase the dynamics to start arriving more frequently, at the same time that the pressure changed sides, with the world champion standing with more determination on the Ecuadorian field.
In that context came the opening of the scoring, in an action that combined speed, precision and surprise, when De Paul received about thirty meters from the goal, and enabled the arrival of “Cuti” Romero, who turned to take out of action two defenders, and assisted Di María, who entered behind everyone’s back to finish with a crossed left foot.
The Argentine captain would also have one more opportunity to increase with a free kick that sought the left corner of Galíndez, but it shook the crossbar and went out.
Messi’s entrance
The stadium was moved to greet the entry of Messi at 55 minutes, as coach Lionel Scaloni had anticipated to give playing time to the Argentine star, and on the other side, the Spanish Félix Sánchez arranged for the entry of Enner Valencia, with the idea of giving more volume to a very light Ecuadorian attack until then.
Argentina had opportunities to increase, including a header from Lautaro Martínez into the hands of the goalkeeper, another save from Galíndez before an arrival from Enzo Fernández in the center after an assist from Messi, and already in stoppage time, Nicolás González could not with the archer, who saved the hand-to-hand match.
Galíndez was the highlight of a lackluster Ecuador, which was left without emotional or football responses after being down in the result, and failed to place any shot between the three sticks, beyond some interesting passages in the first half hour of the match. .
Argentina went from less to more, fully justified its victory and deserved a more comfortable victory in numbers, in an interesting test, facing a competition in which it will have to revalidate its game and personality to emerge victorious again.
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