Argentina were without their captain Lionel Messi but the world champions faced no trouble against El Salvador as they cruised to a 3-0 victory in a FIFA friendly at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday (Mar 23). Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernandez, and Giovani Lo Celso got their names on the scoresheet as the Albiceleste got victory in their very first match of 2024.
Argentina began preparations for their Copa America defence with a convincing 3-0 win against El Salvador on Saturday (Mar 23).
The 2021 champions were without captain Lionel Messi due to injury but prevailed at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia thanks to goals from Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernandez and Giovani Lo Celso.
Messi will also miss the international friendly against Costa Rica in Los Angeles next week after hurting his hamstring during Inter Miami CF's Concacaf Champions Cup win against Nashville earlier this month. But the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was not a big miss for world champions Argentina against an El Salvador side that has now gone 21 games without a win.
Romero put the Albiceleste ahead on 16 minutes with a header from an Angel Di Maria corner kick. A second goal came before half-time when Fernandez scored from close range in the 42nd minute.
Lo Celso completed the scoring seven minutes into the second half after good work by Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez to set him up.
Youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Valentin Barco were both given minutes off the bench by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni after impressing for Manchester United and the Under-23 team in Olympic qualifying respectively.
