In an international friendly match held at the United Airlines Field at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Argentina claimed a remarkable victory against Costa Rica, securing a 3-1 win. Despite the absence of Lionel Messi due to injury, Angel Di Maria, Alexis Mac Allister, and Lautaro Martinez stepped up as the star scorers for the Argentinian team.
Costa Rica got off to a strong start and capitalized on a momentary lapse in Argentina’s defense, creating an exclusive opportunity. Argentina, pressing aggressively, found themselves vulnerable as Ugalde initiated a counter-attack. With Zamora as a supporting option, Ugalde passed the ball to him. Zamora entered the Argentina box and took a low shot. Although Benitez made the initial save, he couldn’t prevent Ugalde from tapping in the rebound from close range, allowing Costa Rica to secure their first goal in the first half of the match.
In the second half, the momentum shifted, and Argentina once again took control of the game. Angel Di Maria proved pivotal for his national team once more, showcasing his expertise with a perfectly executed free kick aimed directly at goal. The ball sailed into the top corner of the net with flawless precision, eluding Navas’s full-stretch dive. This goal marked Di Maria’s 30th for his country.
Another 𝐖in! 🤙
⚽ Di María, Mac Allister & L. Martínez#ArgentinaNT pic.twitter.com/r7BlRr6cpd
— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) March 27, 2024
The second and third goals, scored by Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martinez respectively in the second half, completely altered the course of the match. With a 3-1 lead, Argentina’s victory became evident. Although three minutes of extra time were added, Costa Rica couldn’t bridge the gap.
Argentina has maintained good form since their World Cup win in Qatar, and this 3-1 victory over Costa Rica concludes the international break on a high note.
