“Lautaro Martinez breaks the deadlock, finishing off a Mac Allister assist after sustained Argentine pressure including back-to-back corners.”
Pivotal“Nicolas Paz pounces on a loose ball after shots from Alvarez and Romero were blocked in the box, slotting home the second goal.”
Pivotal“Cristian Romero adds the third goal shortly after the restart, heading in a Paz assist to effectively end any hope of a Bolivian comeback.”
Pivotal“Substitute Jose Manuel Lopez caps off the rout in the closing stages, finding the net after a missed attempt moments earlier.”
Argentina
Bolivia
Outstanding performance
Argentina•MidfielderArgentina took control from the opening minutes and never let go, racking up 69% possession and a staggering 17 shots to Bolivia's 3 as they dismantled their South American neighbors. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring with a far-post finish from a Mac Allister assist, before Nicolas Paz doubled the lead following a goalmouth scramble involving Alvarez and Romero. Cristian Romero got on the scoresheet himself early in the second half, heading home from a Paz assist, before a flurry of substitutions allowed Argentina to rotate heavily and still find a fourth through substitute Jose Manuel Lopez in the final minutes. For Bolivia, this was a lesson in class difference - just one shot on target in the match tells the story of a side that spent the night defending deep and rarely threatening. With this result, Argentina continue to show the depth and firepower that makes them a persistent force on the international stage, while Bolivia will need to regroup significantly before their next competitive test.
How entertaining was this match?
Shot on goal! Jose Manuel Lopez takes a left-footed shot and scores.
Goal! Jose Manuel Lopez scores, making it 4-0.
Goal! The score is now 4-0.
Jose Manuel Lopez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Jose Martinez is on, and Miguel Terceros is off.
Luis Haquin is substituted for Jesus Maraude.
On for Rai Lima, off goes Hector Cuellar.
Diego Daniel Medina Roman comes on for Roberto Fernandez.
Valentin Gomez comes on for Exequiel Palacios.
Jose Flores is substituted for Lisandro Martinez.
Shot by Ignacio Ezequiel Agustin Fernandez Carba with a header, but it misses the target.
Corner awarded.
Julian Alvarez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Ignacio Ezequiel Agustin Fernandez Carba comes on for Alexis Mac Allister.
Santiago Simon comes on for Agustin Giay.
Jose Manuel Lopez comes on for Lautaro Javier Martinez.
Corner awarded.
On comes Oscar Lopez, off goes Robson Tome.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Alexis Mac Allister with a header, but it misses the target.
Corner awarded.
Jesus Maraude takes a left-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Lisandro Martinez attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Roman Vega takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Valentin Barco comes on for Gianluca Prestianni.
Franco Mastantuono comes on for Nicolas Paz Martinez.
Leonardo Balerdi comes on for Cristian Gabriel Romero.
Shot - Cristian Gabriel Romero Head Shot Goal
assist: Nico Paz
Goal! Cristian Gabriel Romero scores to make it 3-0, assisted by Nicolas Paz Martinez.
Miguel Terceros receives a yellow card.
Robson Tome takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Nicolas Paz Martinez takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Jose Flores is on, and Ramiro Vaca is off.
First half ends with the score at 2-0.
Corner awarded.
Alexis Mac Allister attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Julian Alvarez takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Leonardo Viviani comes on for Diego Arroyo.
Corner awarded.
Nicolas Paz Martinez scores with a left-footed shot.
assist: Exequiel Palacios
Goal! Nicolas Paz Martinez scores to make it 2-0, assisted by Exequiel Palacios.
Nicolas Paz Martinez takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Cristian Gabriel Romero attempts a header but misses the shot.
Julian Alvarez takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Lautaro Martínez Lautaro Javier Martinez takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
assist: Alexis Mac Allister
Goal! Lautaro Javier Martinez scores to make it 1-0, assisted by Alexis Mac Allister.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Kick-off! The referee is Jhon Alexander Ospina Londono.
Argentina kick off life after the World Cup final heartbreak with a home friendly against a struggling Bolivia side, notable mainly for who's NOT playing rather than a title race. With Messi rested for his farewell against Benin next week, Cristian Romero captains an experimental Argentina lineup looking to reassert dominance in this lopsided historical rivalry.
