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Argentina hammer Spain

Argentina hammer Spain

09/08/2010 12:23:54 AM

Argentina hammered reigning world and European champions Spain 4-1 in an international friendly in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

Goals from Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero handed Spain their first defeat since their World Cup final victory over the Netherlands in July.

Argentina raced into the lead with a delightful chip from Messi in the 10th minute, before Higuain doubled the home team's advantage three minutes later, rounding goalkeeper Jose Reina before squeezing the ball home from an acute angle.

With errors and international starts equally rare for Reina, the Liverpool goalkeeper will be crestfallen to combine both at the Estadio Monumental, making a calamitous slip in the 34th minute to allow Tevez to score the third.

Fernando Llorente pulled one back for Spain with six minutes to go, but Sergio Aguero hit back to confirm the rout with a 90th minute header.

A win against the No.1 team in the world is a major fillip for temporary Argentina manager Sergio Batista's designs on the full-time job, while Spain coach Vincente Del Bosque may have regretted resting midfield lynchpin Xavi Hernandez.

"We had an uncomfortable start to the match," Del Bosque said.

"We couldn't take control in the midfield, they flooded the midfield and stole the ball off us and hurt us."

In Tuesday's other international friendlies, Australia won 2-1 away to Euro 2012 co-host Poland.

Goals from Brett Holman and Luke Wilkshere either side of a Robert Lewandowski strike helped to secure a first win in two attempts for the Socceroos under new manager Holger Osieck.

Poland's fellow tournament hosts Ukraine secured a 2-1 win at home to Chile courtesy of goals from Yaroslav Rakytskiy and Oleksandr Aliev, with Mauricio Isla scoring for the South Americans.

China managed a point at home to World Cup quarter finalists Paraguay, with the visitors going ahead on seven minutes via Lucas Barrios, before a 33rd minute goal from Lin Gao levelled proceedings.

Japan defeated Guatemala 2-1 in Saitama, while South Korea lost 1-0 at home to Iran in Seoul.

Estonia played out 3-3 draw with Uzbekistan in Tallinn.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
Comments
Posted by manikandan at
08/09/2010 09:26 PM
Messi come back

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