International friendlies - Argentina stroll to seven-goal victory - TopicsExpress

International friendlies - Argentina stroll to seven-goal victory over Hong Kong International friendly, Hong Kong Stadium - Hong Kong 0 Argentina 7 (Banega 19’, Higuain 42’ & 54, Gaitan 44’ & 72’, Messi 66’ & 77’) Argentina claimed an easy 7-0 victory in their friendly against Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Stadium. Argentina initially struggled to rouse themselves for what was little more than exhibition match, with their FA arranging the move due to the financial rather than competitive benefits. The team that started was also largely second string, and the mood was dampened further having lost 2-0 to Brazil in a friendly a few days earlier. Eventually, the goals came, with Ever Banega breaking the deadlock on 19 minutes, and Gonzalo Higuain and Nicolas Gaitan adding two more late in the first half. In the second half, Argentina continued to dominate both goals and possession, and extended their lead at regular intervals. Gaitan and Higuain both grabbed a second, and substitute Lionel Messi, on to wild applause, got an excellent goal of his own, and then another to get the last goal of the match. With the result never in doubt, the fans made the most of a rare opportunity to see players like Messi and Angel Di Maria – including one pitch invader who got Messi to sign his shirt – and at times it seemed like the same was true of the home team #rojo16