Argentina win a crucial free kick in their own half as Banega is brought down. That may just about be enough to see Martino's men over the finish line. Seconds left now.
89'
An edgy finish to this match now. Ecuador are throwing bodies forward desperately to get that equalizing goal, but la Albiceleste are standing firm. The fans are on the edge of their seats.
87'
Argentina's defending has been a lot better in this half. They've cut out the careless turnovers and disconnect between the back four and the midfield. Martino must be pleased with the improvement.
85'
F. Martínez enters the game and replaces Rrenato Ibarra.
Not long left here in New Jersey, and Argentina are still hunting for a third goal. Ecuador haven't shown enough since going behind to warrant a leveler at this stage.
83'
ERAZO NEEDED TO REACT! Roncaglia had sprayed in a really dangerous cross to the near post that Tevez was ready to lap up. However, the defender just about got a toe in there first!
81'
Mascherano had himself a really shaky first half, but he's come alive here in the second. He's been storming all over the pitch, breaking up attacks and releasing the ball at just the right moment.
79'
E. Lavezzi enters the game and replaces Á. Di María.
É. Banega enters the game and replaces J. Pastore.
Lionel Messi is still on the bench for Argentina, but it doesn't look like the fans in the USA will get a chance to see the world's best player. Martino is taking absolutely no risks with his knee injury and to be fair, I doubt that Barcelona would have it any other way.
77'
That miss will be Aguero's last action of the match. He's been a decisive figure tonight. On comes Carlos Tevez, a man in scorching hot form for Juventus. Can he take that onto the international stage?
75'
C. Tevez enters the game and replaces S. Agüero.
NEARLY AN ARGENTINA THIRD! Aguero races clear of his man down the left side of the box to connect with Pastore's pass. He angles for the bottom corner on the far side, but misses the target by inches!
73'
Bolanos has been a real danger for the defence, but this time, he really lets them off the hook. Collecting a cross from the left flank and well inside the area, he has time to take a touch and steady himself, but slams his attempt off target.
Minute
Description
71'
Less than 20 minutes to go now and Argentina are looking good value for their lead. However, they'll want a third goal to grab that cushion. I don't think that Ecuador will recover if that happens.
70'
J. Ayoví enters the game and replaces F. Caicedo.
69'
NOT FAR AWAY! Ayovi uses his left peg to curl to ball to the near-top corner. He gets it up and down and it's dipping and spinning, but it just doesn't sneak low enough to get under the crossbar.
68'
Dangerous free kick for Argentina to defend after Mascherano's foul at the top of the box. Five-man wall for La Albiceleste and they need to get this just right with Ayovi standing over the ball...
66'
Substitution here from Quinteros, who takes off Lastra and replaces him with Gruezo. First change of the game for Ecuador and the second overall after Pereyra's introduction for Mancuello.
65'
C. Gruezo enters the game and replaces O. Lastra.
64'
For the second time in this game, Mascherano is down in some agony on the turf. This time, Bolanos got a nibble on his ankle as he was trying to clear a through ball away from the goalscorer.
62'
Argentina keep forcing the issue in the final third and are winning a succession of corners. Given that all three goals in this game originated from deliveries from wide areas, it's dangerous waters for Ecuador to navigate.
60'
La Albiceleste have easily looked the better side in this half. Whatever Martino said at the interval must have worked. Ecuador would do well to keep their deficit at just one goal at the moment.
58'
J. Pastore has scored a goal for Argentina! Assist by L. Biglia.
W. Ayoví gets yellow.
A looping header from Mena on the very next Tricolor attack sees Romero make an acrobatic, but expected save. It's absolutely end-to-end football at the moment, with a third goal looking quite likely.
ARGENTINA HAVE THE LEAD! It's Pastore who comes up with the goods, as the ball is headed back into the area from the top of the box when Ecuador fail to clear a cross far enough. The PSG man has a simple finish to make, and keeps his head.
57'
BIG SCRAMBLE! Inside the area, time seemed to stand still as both sides scramble for the resulting corner. Aguero nearly smashed home from inside the six-yard area, but somehow, Ecuador manage to clear their lines.
56'
Argentina are profiting from some Ecuador turnovers in their own half, much like Quinteros' men did in the opening period. It's making for some exciting Albiceleste football as they try to break at pace and in waves.
Ibarra pulls off a CRUCIAL challenge inside his own area to prevent Pereyra from escaping down the byline to the near post. He had to get that one exactly right and he did!
55'
ANOTHER MISS FROM DI MARIA! He's not been shy to shoot on sight, but again, he can't bother Dominguez as his drive from the top of the box skids over the crossbar.
53'
It's been all Argentina since the beginning of the second half. Ecuador have a brief respite with a free kick inside the opposition half, but Caicedo misses his header and Garay can clear the danger with his head.
51'
There's been a change at the break, by the way. Mancuello could not live up to the encouraging standards of his debut, and has been sacrificed at the break for Juventus man Pereyra.
49'
SO CLOSE! Argentina pounce on a turnover and Di Maria exchanges passes with Aguero. The Manchester United man is released to the near post but with the angle diminishing by the millisecond, he slashes a wild effort off target! Dominguez should have been tested there.
48'
Early panic in the heart of the Argentine penalty area as a corner drops threateningly right in the centre, before the defence eventually reacts first to clear the ball away from danger.
46'
R. Pereyra enters the game and replaces F. Mancuello.
Here we go!
45' +1
Mascherano is in need of some treatment here as Noboa slides into him late. The Ecuador midfielder has certainly made his presence felt this evening with a few crunching challenges.
44'
Argentina have made a decent stand to end this period, finding some interesting routes through in midfield thanks to the willingness of Di Maria and Co. to take on their direct opponent.
42'
Dominguez is called into action as a long-range effort is deflected wide, before he stays strong at his near post to smother a stinger from Mancuello. Half time fast approaching.
40'
Noboa appeared to have tracked back well enough to win the ball off Di Maria, who was breaking threateningly, but the referee pulls him up for a foul, to his absolute fury.
38'
Achilier is forced to concede a corner as the first competent Argentina attack in a long while sees Di Maria creeping at the far post to convert a free-kick. The resulting delivery is well-held by Dominguez.
36'
Ecuador are employing their traditional vertical and direct style of play, not willing to ponder on the ball in the middle third for long. That's helping them take advantage of Argentina's turnovers in central areas. If they can sort out that final through ball, then Tata Martino's men will be in more trouble.
34'
Argentina need to sort themselves out. So encouraging in the opening exchanges, they've allowed la Tricolor to take control of the game thanks to some criminal sloppiness in midfield.
32'
ROMERO NEEDED TO BE ALERT! An Albicelste turnover in their own half allows Ecuador the opportunity to pounce. Caicedo makes a run to the defender's blind side and tries to latch onto Ibarra's through pass, but the keeper is off his mark quickly to smother at the striker's feet!
30'
The pitch at the MetLife Stadium looks so wide and expansive thanks in part to two things; both teams' willingness to spread the ball from touchline to touchline, and their corresponding hesitance to spot potential passing lanes in time. More goals in this for sure.
28'
M. Bolaños gets yellow.
Aguero tries his luck from about 25 yards out. The ball skips menacingly off the wet turf before bouncing just wide of the far post! Dominguez looked to have had it covered in any case.
The goalscorer Bolanos becomes the first booking of the game for sliding into Mascherano. He was trying to press the Barca man into a mistake, which is a defining feature of the energetic Ecuadorians.
26'
Well that one was coming. Ecuador have improved markedly in the last few minutes and Argentina really couldn't adapt to increase their defensive diligence. Too many gaps in the Albiceleste ranks.
24'
M. Bolaños has scored a goal for Ecuador! Assist by W. Ayoví.
ECUADOR ARE LEVEL! They're afforded too much space on the flanks, and Ayovi's cross falls too easily for Bolanos who takes a touch before beating Romero with a low effort.
23'
Bolanos does well to turn on the ball under pressure and tee up Caicedo, who weighs up his options at the top of the box before attempting a through pass which goes the wrong side of his intended target.
21'
A more even tempo developing to this game, with Argentina having some defending to do in the last few minutes. This game hasn't really had the lethargic monotony that has defined friendlies past.
19'
Ecuador finally start to show some attacking chops as Mena has an effort blocked, before latching onto Ayovi's lofted free kick with a diving header, only for Romero to smother it athletically.
17'
Dominguez should be a worried man in the Ecuador goal as Argentina continue to pepper shots in his direction. Di Maria goes close once more, this time curling a strike just off the top corner from the edge of the D.
14'
ANOTHER CHANCE! Di Maria really should have done better as Aguero's miscontrol falls kindly for him on the left side of the box. He drills a 15-yarder towards goal but it flies over the top.
12'
Ecuador orchestrate a neat sequence down the left-hand side as Bolanos and Mena try to orchestrate a one-two, but Biglia is back to defend and prevent the foray from developing into real danger.
10'
I have to point out that it was amateur hour at the back for Ecuador during that last sequence. To leave a striker of Aguero's pedigree completely unattended to is bad enough, and allowing him to score from a free header, one of his precious few weaknesses, is unforgivable.
8'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Argentina! Assist by J. Pastore.
OPENER FOR ARGENTINA! That didn't take long! A corner from the right is flicked from the front post to the opposite side, and Aguero is unmarked to steer the ball home with his head!
7'
Some scraps in the opening exchanges as Ecuador try to fight their way into this game. The referee has been a busy man already and, especially with the conditions on hand, I bet we see a booking before long.
5'
Confident start from Argentina in possession as they force some corners already, before Mancuello is caught offside when trying to run onto Mascherano's clip over the top.
3'
The rain is pelting down here in New Jersey but it's doing nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of this crowd. This should make for a real mosh pit of a match as both sides try to adapt to the conditions quicker.
1'
In the tradition of international friendlies, we finally kick off a few minutes behind schedule.
Hello and wecome to our live coverage of the friendly match between Argentina and Ecuador at the MetLife Stadium. New Jersey will play host to the clash between the Conmebol rivals as the prelude to this summer's Copa America continues. I'm Keeghann Sinanan, your guide for all the action.
Argentina have Uruguay, Paraguay and Jamaica to contend with in this summer's Copa America Group B, so it's no surprise to see them square off against South American opposition in their recent friendlies. La Albiceleste beat El Salvador 2-0 in Washington on Saturday in the first of their two-match tour of the United States.
Ecuador, meanwhile, have Mexico, Bolivia and tournament hosts Chile to come in Group A. They went down 1-0 to the former in Los Angeles thanks to Javer Hernandez's lone goal. That match also marked Gustavo Quinteros' first game in charge of the national side after taking the reins from Sixto Vizuete in January.
Argentina (4-2-3-1): Romero; Roncaglia, Garay, Otamendi, Rojo; Mascherano, Biglia; Di Maria, Pastore, Mancuello; Aguero.
Lionel Messi, who missed the El Salvador game due to swelling in his right knee, will not start tonight. Federico Mancuello, after scoring on his senior debut in that match, will begin on the left for Argentina, with Sergio Aguero leading the line. It's an entirely new XI from Tata Martino in this game.
Quinteros has made four changes from the Mexico defeat. Key man Antonio Valencia will not play from the start, as he's been benched in favour of Angel Mena. Swansea's Jefferson Montero, the unpredictable winger, will also start in the dugout as Renato Ibarra takes his spot on the flanks.
And that will do it for the opening half. Ecuador and Argentina are locked at a goal apiece, and that's a pretty fair reflection of the way this game has gone. Aguero opened the scoring with a header from a corner, before Bolanos also took advantage of slack marking to prod la Tricolor level. This game has flown nicely, with both teams eager to impress the fans who have not let the rain douse their enthusiasm for this clash. Stay tuned for the restart in just a bit.
The referee ends the game and Argentina clinch a deserved victory in an entertaining game. Goals from Aguero and Pastore bettered a Bolanos effort to send la Albiceleste to the W. It was an entertaining night in New Jersey, with both sides hungry to attack, and the fans making a great spectacle.
That's all from me, Keeghann Sinanan here, signing off and wishing you all a good night.
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