Wasteful Argentina still ease past Trinidad and Tobago

Argentina spurned an incredible number of chances as they beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly in Buenos Aires.

As expected, the home side dominated the match from start to finish but were hugely wasteful in front of goal and squandered a number of decent chances.

Despite Alejandro Sabella opting for an attacking 4-3-3 formation – Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio leading the line – the coach will be less than impressed with how his team performed in front of goal so close to the start of the World Cup.

Messi set the tone early on, skewing a left-footed effort wide of an open goal from eight yards before Paris Saint-Germain’s Lavezzi wasted three glorious chances to open the scoring.

La Albiceleste continued to dominate – Messi in typically magical form, exciting the crowd with moments of genius – though they had to wait until the final seconds of the opening half to get their goal as Palacio deservedly headed his side in front.

The unconvincing hosts added their second after just five second-half minutes when Messi’s free-kick crashed back off the post and into the path of Javier Mascherano who couldn’t miss from six yards.

Fifteen minutes later, it was 3-0 as Palacio turned from scorer to provider, showing real grit and determination after rounding Jan Michael Williams in the Trinidad net. The striker somehow managed to keep the ball in play and find substitute Maxi Rodriguez who wrapped up the scoring.

12’ - MESSI MUST SCORE! Argentina attack in numbers following a Trinidad corner. Di Maria takes the ball out of his own half and into the opposition’s, playing in Lavezzi down on the left. The PSG man fakes a shot, cutting inside of Hoyte to square for Messi. With the keeper out of his goal, Messi only needs to direct his effort on target, but misses the gaping net from 8 yards.

21’ - LAVEZZI GOES CLOSE! The PSG forward capitalises on Bateau’s wayward header to burst into the Trinidad penalty area. Messi is busting a gut to make the ground and support his teammate, but Lavezzi lashes a left-footed effort on goal from a tight angle, smashing the ball into the side netting.

30’ - CHANCE FOR KENWYNE JONES! The Trinidad striker plays a one-two with Guerra and looks to open his body on the edge of the penalty area to shoot on goal. Campagnaro is over in a flash to make a stunning block.

31’ – STRAIGHT UP THE OTHER END! Gago pulls out wide on the right and surges down the touchline before delivering a superb ball into the corridor of uncertainty. Messi gets a run on his man and is first to the ball, but can’t direct his effort on target from 10 yards.

45’ - WHAT A GOAL-SAVING CHALLENGE! Di Maria rounds Williams inside the Trinidad penalty area, and, after finding his feet, looks to square the ball across the face of the goal for Messi rather than shooting with his weaker right foot. It’s the wrong option, though, as that allows for Bateau to make a superb goal-line clearance.

45’ - FINALLY ARGENTINA SCORE! Messi’s corner from the left is whipped into the near post. The towering Palacio is the first to it and heads it straight at Williams, but the keeper can only palm the ball into his own net. It’s been a long time coming, but well deserved.

51’ - ARGENTINA HAVE TWO! Messi’s free-kick from the edge of the penalty area has Williams in the Trinidad goal beaten, but the ball crashes back off the post. Mashcerano is on hand to turn it in, though, and the hosts lead 2-0.

65’ - ARGENTINA SCORE!! And Palacio deserves so much credit! The striker is sent through one-on-one, and he clips the ball past the onrushing keeper, but looks to be struggling in his attempt to keep the ball in play. The Inter man lunges to stop the ball from crossing the line and, with men around him, finds Maxi who smashes home.

67’ – ANOTHER WASTED CHANCE! Maxi should score his second in quick succession. The Newell’s Old Boys’ man is sent through by Messi and, opening his body up, looks to find the far corner from 12 yards, but Williams is on hand to make the save.

Can Argentina win the World Cup on this performance? Honestly, no. Although it is a friendly, and they’re sure to be a different side when they take to the pitch for the first time in the Brazil, they simply cannot afford to be this wasteful. Against the best sides you may only get one chance, and if you’re to win the World Cup then you need to take it. On today’s evidence, Argentina would need about 10 to get their goal.

Lionel Messi, Argentina – Who else? There is not much that can be said about Messi that hasn’t already been said. He may not have got his goal today, and most certainly spurned a few opportunities, but he was at the heart of everything that La Albiceleste did, and should probably get an assist for Mascherano’s goal.

Argentina: Romero 6, Campagnaro 6, Fernandez 6, Demichelis 6, Rojo 6, Gago 7, Mascherano 7, Di Maria 7, Lavezzi 6, Palacio 7, Messi 8. Subs: Basanta 5, Biglia 6, Perez 5, Alvarez 5, Fernandez 6, Rodriguez 7.

Trinidad & Tobago: Williams 6, Hoyte 6, Radanfah 5, Bateau 5, Mitchell 5, Boucaud 6, Guerra 5, Peltier 5, George 6, Jones 5, Winchester 5. Subs: Hoyte 5, Plaza 5, Molino 5.