A host of fringe Argentina players laid their claim to a spot in Gerardo
Martino's plans after waltzing to a 7-0 win over Hong Kong,Thegoalmac can reveal.
Brazil took down a strong Argentina side 2-0 in Beijing at the weekend,
but a string of replacements had a comfortable outing against a side
placed 163 places below them in the world rankings on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi was among those rested, but his every appearance on the
stadium screen was routinely cheered by the fans in attendance at the
Hong Kong Stadium, and they got to see half an hour of their hero in
fine form after the break.
Nahuel Guzman made his international debut in goal, while defensive pair
Facundo Roncaglia and Santiago Vergini were handed their second caps.
Ever Banega - making his first Argentina outing in 11 months - opened
the scoring after ponderous home defending, while Gonzalo Higuain and
Nico Gaitan also netted before the interval - the Benfica winger capping
a fine performance with his first international goal.
Higuain netted again early in the second half to take him joint fifth on
Argentina's goalscoring chart - above World Cup-winning pair Leopoldo
Luque and Daniel Passarella - with Messi getting in on the act for
number five before setting up Gaitan's second and Argentina's sixth.
Messi capped a devastating cameo with the final goal, as the visitors racked up a simple triumph.
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