Football
International Friendly
ARG 
7
FT
 BOL
0
PA Sport 9y

Argentina 7-0 Bolivia

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ARGENTINA 7 BOLIVIA 0
A virtuoso performance from Sergio Aguero led Argentina to a 7-0 friendly win over Bolivia in Houston.
The Manchester City forward is recognised as one of the world's premier goalscorers and a pair of deft finishes were in keeping with that reputation.
But unusually, it was his creativity that stood out with wonderful passes for both of strike partner Ezequiel Lavezzi's first-half goals as Gerardo Martino's side led 3-0 at the break.
Aguero scored his second and substitute Lionel Messi also got two, the second again set up by Aguero, before Angel Correa added a final flourish.
It took only five minutes for Argentina to open the scoring, Aguero moving into a deep position and lofting the ball over the Bolivia defence to Lavezzi, who brought it down expertly and finished low past the exposed Daniel Vaca.
The Paris St Germain forward shot over from his next sight of goal and Aguero headed Milton Casco's cross over before drawing a good save from Vaca.
Marcelo Moreno warmed the palms of Argentina keeper Sergio Romero, whose first-team place at Manchester United is unsure after the collapse of David de Gea's move to Real Madrid.
But it was 2-0 in the 33rd minute when Erik Lamela's high ball forward was only half-cleared and, after a rapid-fire exchange with Roberto Pereyra, Aguero ran onto the ball in the right side of the penalty area and lifted it deliciously over Vaca.
Edward Zenteno and Martin Smedberg-Dalence went close for Bolivia but Lavezzi rounded off an impressive first half for his team by poking home after Aguero's glorious reverse pass took four defenders out of the game.
Lavezzi returned the favour for Argentina's fourth goal just before the hour mark, his low side-footed cross from the right clipped home effortlessly by Aguero.
The crowd at BBVA Compass Stadium had been royally entertained but would have wanted a glimpse of Messi, and the four-time Ballon d'Or winner was introduced in place of Nicolas Gaitan in the 65th minute.
The Barcelona star needed little time to make an impression as just two minutes later, he rose above his marker to meet Casco's left-footed cross with a well-placed downward header for the fifth goal.
Everton new boy Ramiro Funes Mori headed Messi's free-kick just wide but Aguero turned quarterback once more with a defence-splitting pass to Messi, who rounded Vaca and tapped home number six.
Bolivia were carved open once more with six minutes remaining, Matias Kranevitter threading a ball through from midfield to the edge of the box where Correa finished first time to complete an emphatic win.
ends

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