It’s never the same without Messi. However, when he is not there, even if his fantasies are missed, the good thing is that the team maintains his identity. Argentina They did it in Jakarta, against modest Indonesia, in a game more designed to continue squeezing the brand in the Asian market than to look for football arguments. It was 2-0 with goals from mid-distance and after a corner. It could have been beaten by the pressure, the voracity and the usual seriousness.
After beating Australia in Beijing With the World Cup eleven, Lionel Scaloni turned this match into a test bench. For Leo he located a symbol of renewal, Facundo Buonanotte, 18 years old, former Rosario Central and today in English Brighton, left-handed like Messi. The “9” was Julian Alvarez and to the left Nicolás González, supported from the middle by Exequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes and Gio Lo Celso.
Was a albiceleste monologue, with Indonesia buckled near their area. Nico González was covered by the goalkeeper below. Buonanotte was removed on the line and Julián too. The same was difficult for Argentina to penetrate. That is why the goal was shouted with an impressive right hand from Paredes from 25 meters, at an angle.
Data sheet
INDONESIA: Ari Sutaryadi; Mangkualam Bahar, William Tio Baggott, Jordi Amat, Ridho Ramadhani, Ivar Jenner; Anthony Klok, Marselino Ferdinan, Elian Jay Pattynama; Dimas Drajad and Rafael Struick
Substitutions: 45′ Patrama Arhan by S. Pattynama and Dendy Sulistyawan by D. Drajad; 63′ Witan Sulaeman by R. Struick; 84′ Yakob Sayuri by I. Jenner
DT: Tae Yong Shin
ARGENTINA: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, German Pezzella, Facundo Medina; Exequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso; Facundo Buonanotte, Julián Álvarez and Nicolás González
Substitutions: 59′ Alejandro Garnacho by N. Gonzalez and 59′ Marcos Acuña by F. Medina; 73′ Lucas Ocampos by F. Buonanotte; 84′ alacios and Guido Rodriguez for L. Paredes.
DT: Lionel Scaloni
Stadium: Gelora Bung Karno (Jakarta).
Referee: Muhammad Usaid Jamal (Indonesia). TA to Julián Álvarez.
goals: 38′ L. Paredes and 55′ C. Romero.
Indonesia he only came close to drawing twice and it emerged I drew Martinez. In that moment of enthusiasm from the locals, Christian Romero nailed the second header.
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There was room in the last half hour for some changes. For example, entered Alexander Garnacho, another illusion of 18 years, another face of renewal that in the end almost celebrated the third. And the world champion went to enjoy the happiest of holidays with the whole stadium shouting: “Messi, Messi, Messi…”.
