Argentina Defeated Honduras: Messi Sets Up Fire With 2 Goals

Messi was all over the field, passing, converting a penalty, and finding the nets as Argentina defeated Honduras 3-0 this Friday in a friendly warm-up match before the mega football event – the FIFA world cup.

Argentina Defeated Honduras

Argentina Defeated Honduras
Pic Credit: dailynewsday.com

The Argentinian National team decimated Honduras at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The United States is jam-packed with 64000 viewers. The team led by Lionel Scaloni dominated every aspect of the game and came out on top, with Messi contributing two goals to the 3-0 tally.

The other addition was from Lautaro Martínez. With this win, Argentina has stretched its winning streak to 34 matches. Lautaro Martínez opened the score line for his team, and Messi extended it to three goals till the end of the game.

Honduras put up a good fight, but they couldn’t match the vigor of their rivals and failed to tackle the attack led by the man from Rosario. Argentina is on a friendly two-match tour to the United States. The Argentinian team will again be tested on Tuesday against Jamaica in the last friendly before the FIFA 2022 world slated for November this year in Qatar. 

Argentina Undefeated In 34 Games

With the recent win, the Albicelestes are now 34 games undefeated.

Something that would surely strengthen their claim on the FIFA World Cup trophy. Last Friday, they were up against Honduras in a friendly match as a part of the FIFA date in September.

And despite being only a warm-up game, the Hard Rock Stadium was filled to the brim. Argentina didn’t disappoint all the support and Messi in particular when they flattened their rival with a 3-0 lead. The albiceleste were dominant from start to finish – especially Messia, who appeared to be in killer form.

“Well, with a game that is becoming more and more oiled, the idea is becoming clearer,” Messi stated. “I am very excited, very excited, anxious because the World Cup is coming but simultaneously calm. We must be good at the clubs to get the World Cup in good shape.”

Messi Total 88 Goals

The top notch-performance against Honduras allowed Messi to extend his total goal to 88. He is now the top scorer in the history of the Argentinian soccer team. 

Lionel Scaloni appeared delighted with the team’s performance.

The game was what we expected, and we played it as it should be. I’m satisfied,” said Lionel Scaloni, the manager of the albiceleste, at the press conference.

He said, “Honduras is a good rival,” he further accepted that there’s no longer any easy opponent, and his team is not taking anyone lightly. Further speaking, he said that his team considered the game “as if it were a World Cup final.”

Match Highlights

Lautaro Martinez, the Inter Milan forward, was the first to find nets for Argentina when the game was in its 16th minute. Messi sent the ball to Sevilla’s “Papu” Gomez, who directed it toward the Inter Milan Forward. And Martinez made no mistake diverting the ball to the nets and extending the lead to 1-0. 

After that, it was Messi’s show. He first turned a brilliant left-footed penalty into a goal just before the end of the first half, when Argentina was awarded a penalty against the foul by Honduran defender Marcelo Santos. At halftime, the score line was 2-0, with Martínez and Messi having a single gaol each to their names.

In the 69th minute, Messi again found the opportunity to find the net, and he didn’t falter. 

Messi Sets Up Fire With 2 Goals
Pic Credit: tt.loopnews.com

The crowd was all “Ole-Ole-Ole, Ole-Ole-Ola, Cada Dia Te Quiero Mas, Ooooh Argentina!” when Messi went with a left-footed chip shot and the ball zipped passed the Honduran goalkeeper Luis Lopez way over his head. That sealed the deal for the Argentina team as they extended the lead to 3-0.

Coach Diego Vasquez or the Honduran team was unhappy with his team’s performance. 

At the end of the game, Vasquez said, “Obviously, we knew the rival we were going to face; if they scored three goals in a final against Italy, it’s not that drastic or bad that they scored three on Honduras,” Vasquez said. “They scored six goals against Estonia, so they scored fewer against us than expected. We must accept the difference between a World Cup team like Argentina with so many prestigious players and our team. We will take the positives and keep growing.”

Scaloni Test His Squad Strength

Scaloni had already revealed that he would be using the game to test his squad’s preparation, and at halftime, he complied with his statement. First, he brought in Thiago Almada and Julián Álvarez. And then he allowed Nehuén Pérez and Enzo Fernández to showcase their talent. 

He even allowed Ángel Correa and Alexis Mac Allister to join the action. Without the pressure of the result and the absence of a strong opponent, the Argentinian team played a natural game with some great display of skills and tactics that deserve to culminate in goals.

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