Argentina vs Indonesia: ARG 2-0 INA at Full Time — Highlights
Argentina vs Indonesia, FIFA Friendly: Leandro Paredes made it 1-0 in the 38th minute, Christian Romero doubled the lead in the 55th minute.
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after a goal against Croatia in semifinal (Source: AP)
Argentina vs Indonesia: The Argentina football team beat Indonesia by 2-0 in their FIFA friendly in Jakarta on Monday on their tour of Asia.
Lionel Messi, who scored a 2nd minute goal against Australia in the last match, did not take the pitch. It was a piledriver from Leandro Paredes which gave the world champions a 1-0 lead at half-time. Christian Romero doubled the lead in the 55th minute with a headed goal from a corner.
As it happened:
A Leandro Paredes screamer and a headed goal by Romero the difference between the two sides. Argentina often looked suspect though, and can only offer as explanation the friendly nature of the game, to only have won 2-0 against the 149th ranked team.
Not too much of an attacking threat from either team, both teams resigned to their fates. Argentina passing the ball around. Except Garnacho down the left flank, who is looking dangerous, not much of a push from them.
Not as important as the save with his outstretched foot in the last minute of added time in the WC final perhaps, but Martinez has been called to serious action at least thrice today.
80' - Still 2-0 to Argentina
Garnacho comes on replacing Gonzalez in the 60th minute. Acuna comes in for Medina to inject some pace into the left wing.
Martinez called into action again. Now needed to jump and tip over a header for a corner. Indonesia look likelier to score by the minute.
But at the other end, there's a towering header from Romero off a Lo Celso corner to make it 2-0.
The Argentine fans in the stands are up on their feet. The Indonesian fans also have resigned smiles on their faces, as if they knew this was always coming.
The second half begins with an attacking foray by Romero of all people - one of the few first-team names on the sheet today.
Exequiel Palacios then tries a long ranger like his midfield mate Paredes, but the shot is blocked. The crowd gets into it again as Indonesia make an attacking run down the left flank and win a corner in the 49th minute.
Indonesia get a great chance in the last minute of added time. Emiliano Martinez required to make a diving save to keep it at 1-0. That was the last attack of the half.
Alvarez bangs a shot onto the side netting as half-time approaches.
A problem for Argentina overall has been how they have been easy to scatter. It's almost like they are being caught playing Indonesia's game from time to time. The hosts could even score on one of these occasions. If Messi had been in the middle, would Argentina have looked similarly disorganised? It's only a freak of a goal from Paredes which separates the two teams.
Now Indonesia show some sparks. They win a corner, which is stoutly defended by the Argentine backline. Then a dribbling run down the left flank gets the crowd roaring, but there is a pass to the bench to end it.
Hold on! We've just had a screamer! Leandro Paredes! Booming shot! From at least 35 yeards out! Keeper gets a touch, but it still bangs into the top corner.
ARG 1-0 INA
Buonanotte and Alvarez now denied by the Indonesian miracle! Flailing saves, last ditch tackles, strange magnetic forces diverting the ball from goal - who knows!
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