Giovanni Simeone is shown a yellow card in the first minute of added time for a tired foul.
90'
The fourth official indicates there will be three minutes of added time.
89'
Tagliafico is taken down in the left-back position following a bit of time-wasting featuring the goalkeeper and Kannemann. This match is in the dying embers, with both sides waiting for the whistle.
87'
Play is stopped as De Leon is receiving treatment after receiving Ascacibar’s knee to the back of his calf. The referee restarts play after De Leon limps to the sideline before re-entering.
83'
A brilliant switch finds Ceballos on the right-hand side but he is promptly squeezed out by Renzo Saravia which sends the Guatemala winger into a fury – thinking he should have been awarded a free-kick. The referee, however, disagrees.
81'
It is interesting to note that despite a squad of 27 players, no Argentina call-up has been given the number 10 shirt – perhaps in hopes of the return of Lionel Messi who is conspicuously absent from Lionel Scaloni’s team.
79'
N. Tagliafico gets yellow.
Captain Nicolas Tagliafico is shown a yellow card for following through in his challenge on Ceballos on the left-hand side.
77'
Guatemala’s legs are clearly tiring as we enter the final 10 minutes of the match. Argentina have forced them to chase for most of the 90 minutes, so it cannot have been an easy evening in the California heat.
75'
Guatemala have a free-kick in a great position on the right but instead of crossing it in, they look to play it short and Ceballos gets to the byline in a flash before being dispossessed and earning his side a corner. The set-piece is taken by Ceballos but Argentina clear downfield for Guatemala to start again from Motta.
Minute
Description
73'
Simeone gets into the penalty area and attempts to get a shot off, but can’t quite fashion a strike with his stronger right foot. Moreira comes back just in time to poke the ball away for a corner which is headed over the crossbar by Kannemann.
72'
Argentina are really controlling things now, passing from right to left and changing the tempo seemingly for fun. Vazquez gets to the goal-line and sends in a cross which eludes the heads of all his team-mates.
70'
J. Márquez gets yellow.
E. Macal enters the game and replaces J. Contreras.
Newly introduced Jonathan Marquez is shown a yellow card for going through the back of Simeone.
Walter Claveri removes Jose Contreras in favour of Edgar Macal.
68'
The match has really come to a standstill following the raft of changes by both managers. Argentina are without any more alterations while Walter Claveri still has two more switches. The pace and tempo have been sucked out of the stadium by the constant stoppages, which helps Argentina as they look to see out the final 20 minutes.
66'
F. Cervi enters the game and replaces E. Palacios.
W. Kannemann enters the game and replaces R. Funes Mori.
Exequiel Palacios who was especially bright in the first half is replaced by Franco Cervi.
Highest-capped player Ramiro Funes Mori makes way for Walter Kannemann.
63'
M. Ceballos enters the game and replaces K. Norales.
F. Vázquez gets yellow.
Kevin Norales who was cautioned early in the second half is replaced by Marvin Ceballos.
Franco Vazquez is shown a yellow card for kicking out and showing his frustration with a Guatemala defender.
59'
J. Márquez enters the game and replaces R. Saravia.
Rodrigo Saravia is taken off by Claveri, with Jonathan Marquez coming onto the pitch.
58'
J. Contreras gets yellow.
Ascacibar is taken down by Contreras who is shown a yellow for the foul. It was a tough challenge which Ascacibar was is very unhappy about as it seemed intentional.
56'
A. Franco enters the game and replaces G. Pezzella.
F. Vázquez enters the game and replaces G. Martínez.
Franco Vazquez makes his debut for Argentina, replacing Gonzalo Martinez.
German Pezzella is done for the day, Alan Franco will replace him in central defence.
53'
Contreras gets free on the break and switches play to the right, but Argentina get back in numbers to crowd the player out on the left-hand side and win back possession at the top of their own box.
51'
K. Norales gets yellow.
The referee shows the first card of the match, a yellow for a crunching challenge on Tagliafico by Norales.
48'
Guatemala do very well to pass the ball around a number of pressing Argentina forwards and clear the ball while retaining possession.
46'
C. Gallardo enters the game and replaces E. Vásquez.
W. Pérez enters the game and replaces J. Vargas.
C. Jiménez enters the game and replaces A. Yanes.
M. Vargas enters the game and replaces C. Pavón.
S. Ascacíbar enters the game and replaces L. Paredes.
Allen Yanes is removed at half time in favour of Cristian Martinez.
Guatemala start the second half from the kick-off!
Cristian Jimenez is the latest Guatemala player to enter the match, replacing Jorge Vargas.
Cristian Pavon is removed by Scaloni after impressing in the first half. Matias Vargas is his replacement.
Elias Vasquez will play no further part in this game, with Carlos Gallardo entering the fray.
Leandro Paredes is also substituted at the interval, with Stuttgart’s Santiago Ascacibar taking his place.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: ARGENTINA 3-0 GUATEMALA.
44'
G. Simeone has scored a goal for Argentina! Assist by E. Palacios.
SIMEONE MAKES IT THREE! Rodrigo Saravia overruns the ball in midfield which allows Palacios to win it back and pass it to Simeone who drags the ball wonderfully by a defender before smashing the ball past Motta into the goal!
Exequiel Palacios deserves a lot of credit for that goal, as he both won back possession and made the key pass.
41'
Contreras takes a corner to the near post where Morales meets it with a delightful flick of the head, though Rulli’s positioning is flawless.
39'
Pavon has a close-range first-time strike which is blocked sending the ball looping into the air. Palacios steams in to head the ball at the second attempt, but Guatemla get a second deflection – this time sending it out for a corner.
35'
G. Lo Celso has scored a goal for Argentina!
WHAT A PHENOMENAL GOAL BY LO CELSO! 2-0 to Argentina with one of the cleanest volleys you’ll ever see. Argentina’s corner-kick is cleared out of the box to a central position where Lo Celso waits. After allowing the ball to bounce a couple of times, he makes incredibly sweet contact with the ball and fires it into the goalkeeper’s right-hand side.
34'
Pavon pulls Motta out of the goal with a very dangerous run into the penalty area and the right winger plays a square ball to Martinez, but Moreira gets back to put it out for a corner.
33'
Contreras puts the ball into the penalty area with a bouncing cross but there is nobody in the box to get on the end of it and a decent chance goes begging.
31'
Vargas puts his acute-angle volley into Rulli’s side netting from a throw-in which isn’t properly dealt with by Argentina’s defence. It wasn’t much of an opportunity, but it’s the best Guatemala have had so far tonight.
29'
Some comical defending around the Guatemala penalty area in which Guatemala cannot clear their lines ends to the relief of Claveri as Guatemala are awarded a free-kick for a foul during an aerial duel.
27'
Penalty goal scored by G. Martínez for Argentina!
GONZALO MARTINEZ MAKES NO MISTAKE! Motta dives to his right but even if he had guessed correctly – he wouldn’t have stood a chance. Martinez takes his penalty with wonderful power and hammers it into the top-left corner. 1-0 Argentina!
26'
PENALTY TO ARGENTINA! Lo Celso takes a shot from just outside the area which appears to be going wide, but it makes contact with the arm of Vasquez and the referee awards a spot-kick to Argentina!
25'
Gonzalo Martinez dribbles away from three defenders and switches play where it finds Pavon who takes a strike from outside the area which goes well-wide to a host of boos from the crowd who are starting to grow slightly restless.
23'
Norales is called for a hard challenge in midfield which Argentina take quickly and shift the play from right-to-left looking for an opening on the flank.
21'
Guatemala are passing it around at the back, no doubt regaining their energy after some frenetic defending during a wonderful spell for Argentina’s attack. They’ve managed to weather the storm so far, however, as it remains 0-0 almost 30 minutes into the match.
19'
The first corner is taken to the near post where Motta slaps it away barely for a second attempt from the flag. This time, the delivery is an out-swinger which is dealt with by Guatemala who finally have a second to breathe.
17'
Argentina take a corner short then work it into the middle where it doesn’t get through. Pavon takes it down the right and chips it to the back post but Palacios’ header is cleared off the line for a corner!
16'
Pavon gets in alone on the goalkeeper and opts to chip him with a deft touch but Moreira gets back with just enough time to head it over the bar! Argentina are piling on the pressure!
15'
He ball is whipped in from the left and Funes Mori makes contact with the set-piece but he fails to trouble the goalkeeper from close range! Guatemala are once again let off the hook!
14'
De Leon is down in a heap as Pezzella goes into the central midfielder with a tackle, but the referee correctly spots that the Argentina defender was pushed into the Guatemala player by Jose Martinez – and the match official gives Argentina a free-kick.
13'
Paredes launches it long looking for Gonzalo Martinez but Yanes gets back quickly enough to cover the space and clear the ball down the pitch.
11'
Contreras takes Martinez down on the left which leaves the Argentina winger furious. Martinez takes the free-kick and puts it into the penalty area which Motta gets to first with a bobbled attempted catch. The goalkeeper’s blushes are saved however as the referee whistles for a foul in the box.
9'
Simeone should really make it 1-0! Lo Celso lays it off to Renzo Saravia on the right-hand side and the full-back promptly whips a cross into the box looking for Simeone who rises highest to make contact. Unfortunately for him, the Fiorentina striker puts his chance over the crossbar – not even forcing a save out of the goalkeeper.
7'
Pavon has a weak shot at goal from a long way out which rolls kindly for Motta’s foot just inside the six-yard box.
5'
Guatemala have held their own in the early stages, not making life easy for their opponents, pressing at every chance. Scaloni does not look very happy on the touchline as he gesticulates instructions from just in front of the bench.
3'
Motta comes all the way out of goal to take the ball away from Palacios and then win a throw-in for his side by kicking off the legs of the Argentina midfielder. Nifty work by the veteran goalkeeper.
1'
Argentina get the match underway from the kick-off!
The World Cup is but a distant memory for a new-look Argentina side looking to rebound in emphatic fashion following a poor display which saw Jorge Sampaoli’s side knocked out by eventual winners France in the round-of-16. Since then, former senior international player Lionel Scaloni has taken charge of the side in the interim as Sampaoli was let go after the disappointment in Russia.
Good evening and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the international friendly between Argentina and Guatemala at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in California!
Guatemala, before playing two fixtures against Cuba in August had not competed internationally since a 9-3 thrashing of St. Vincent in 2016. The federation has recently seen its two-year suspension for bribery lifted, and this will be their first real test since before the ban was implemented in 2016.
Perhaps a more meaningful absence in this side is the lack of Lionel Messi, who has not been included as confusion continues to surround his availability in international football. His apparent decision to take a break from representing Argentina is certainly a loss to the collective who will also be without familiar faces Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, and Nicolas Otamendi amongst others.
Considerable underdogs, the Guatemala team coached by Walter Claveri has the unenviable job of putting together the pieces of a side that were abruptly broken apart while maintaining some level of competitiveness against a much more experienced Albiceleste side. They may not be expected to win, but their manager will certainly be looking for positives to take forward with them.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, its about time we took a look at how the two sides will be lining up! Let's start with Argentina.
Argentina Substitutes: Sergio Romero, Francisco Armani, Fabricio Bustos, Marcos Acuna, Walter Kanneann, Alan Franco, Leonel Di Placido, Maximiliano Meza, Santiago Ascacibar, Rodrigo Battaglia, Franco Cervi, Franco Vazquez, Matias Vargas, Mauro Icardi, Angel Correa, Paulo Dybala, .
Argentina Starting XI (4-3-3): Geronimo Rulli; Renzo Saravia, German Pezzella, Ramiro Funes Mori, Nicolas Tagliafico; Exequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso; Gonzalo Martinez, Giovanni Simeone, Cristian Pavon.
Guatemala Substitutes: Edi Guerra, Cristian Jimenez, Prins Lopez, Manuel Moreno, Jean Marquez, Marvin Ceballos, Ricardo Jerez, Wilber Perez, Nicholas Hagen, Kevin Ruiz, Carlos Gallardo, Edgar Macal.
Guatemala Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Paulo Motta; Elias Vasquez, Hector Moreira, Allen Yanes, Rafael Morales; Rodrigo Saravia, Kevin Norales; Jorge Vargas, Jose Contreras, Frank de Leon; Jose Martinez.
While the score correctly suggests that Argentina are the team in the ascendancy – that’s not to discredit Guatemala who only went two goals behind due to a slightly contentious penalty and an absolute wonder-strike. La Albiceleste added a third just before the half through Simeone to really end this match as a contest. Argentina have looked brilliant down the flanks with Pavon and Gonzalo Martinez who are threatening at every opportunity, and they have also had a number of chances to score from set-pieces, with both Funes Mori and Simeone failing to trouble the goalkeeper from close range.
Guatemala have been organised in the first half and have worked extremely hard to keep the score as it is. Argentina have had numerous chances to score, and the deficit could be more if it weren’t for some goal-line clearances. Jose Martinez and Jose Contreras have been kept very quiet as their side have been forced to defend for long periods, with decent service at a premium. The match started promisingly for Guatemala, though it has quickly spiraled and the second half could prove to be an extremely long one for Claveri.
Walter Clavari’s side has much more experience as captain Motta starts in goal for his 33rd match. Vasquez, Moreira, Yanes and Morales make up the back-four while Rodrigo Saravia and Norales will play just in front of them in midfield. Vargas and de Leon flank either side of Contreras – all three of whom will be responsible for supplying striker Martinez.
Scaloni goes with a very inexperienced squad – with only Ramiro Funes Mori in central midfield boasting more than 10 appearances. Debutante Rulli starts in goal behind a defence of captain Tagliafico at left-back, Pezzella and Funes Mori centrally and another new face in Renzo Saravia at right-back. The midfield consists of Palacios, Paredes and Lo Celso while the attack features none of the familiar names, with Scaloni instead choosing Gonzalo Martinez, Giovanni Simeone and Cristian Pavon.
Guatemala’s first test in over two years ended with a resounding defeat – though there were positives. Claveri’s side remained organised and structured even into the second half where the result was beyond doubt, and the lead was only taken by Argentina following a rather unlucky penalty call for a handball. It’s a first loss since May 2016, but there is certainly room to grow for this side who are building up for the next Gold Cup.
The second half was not without needle, but it turned out to be a training exercise for an Argentina side who had done the hard work in the first half. They continued to probe and pass around the Guatemala defence, but did not seem extremely intent to score. It was a good performance for Scaloni in his debut, despite the relatively poor quality of the opposition.
That concludes our coverage of the international friendly between Argentina and Guatemala! We hope you enjoyed the match and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Next up for Argentina is a friendly with Colombia in two days’ time, while Guatemala look to continue their return to the international stage with a win over Ecuador – also in two days.
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