Lionel Messi was among the many scorers as Argentina wrapped up their World Cup preparations with a 5-0 pleasant victory over the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
Messi lashed residence his 91st worldwide aim within the first half on the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi to assist Argentina lengthen their unbeaten streak to 36 video games.
The South American giants can equal Italy’s world file unbeaten run of 37 video games in the event that they keep away from defeat in opposition to Saudi Arabia of their World Cup opener in Doha on Tuesday.
Messi’s aim got here in a gap 45 minutes that noticed Angel di Maria rating twice with Manchester Metropolis’s Julian Alvarez additionally netting.
Substitute Joaquin Correa added a fifth after the break, finishing a commanding consequence for the Qatar-bound guests, in entrance of a 36,000-capacity crowd.
Alvarez opened Argentina’s account within the seventeenth minute, ending off a Messi low cross, easily flicking the ball previous UAE’s keeper Khalid Eisa.
A primary-time volley from Di Maria off a superb Marcos Acuna cross discovered the far nook to double Argentina’s lead within the twenty sixth minute.
Messi nearly bought on the board with a signature free kick that simply cleared the bar however the guests didn’t want to attend lengthy for an additional aim as Di Maria linked with an Alexis Mac Allister cross and dribbled his well past the complete UAE defence to make it 3-0 for La Albiceleste inside 36 minutes.
A Messi header simply earlier than the break was saved by Eisa however the former Barcelona star was to not be denied as he and Di Maria wreaked havoc on the sting of the field earlier than Messi sprinted by way of down the fitting and fired previous the UAE’s keeper.
Substitute Correa prolonged Argentina’s lead within the sixtieth minute, latching onto a Rodrigo de Paul by way of cross for aim quantity 5.
UAE’s Caio Canedo nearly struck again instantly however his close-range strike sailed over the bar. One other alternative got here through Abdulaziz Heikal, who despatched a harmful cross into the field however Canedo’s effort went simply huge.
Messi curled a free kick within the 78th minute that was a couple of inches huge earlier than Canedo missed twice from shut vary.
Argentina will now fly to Doha the place they kick off their World Cup marketing campaign in opposition to Saudi Arabia on November 22 at Lusail Stadium.
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