Football
2018 International Friendly, International Friendly
ARG 
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FT
 GUA
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Reuters 6y

Argentina's Giovanni Simeone scores debut goal in win over Guatemala

Giovanni Simeone capped his international debut with a goal as a new-look Argentina side disapatched Guatemala in a friendly.

Son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego, Simeone is also Fiorentina's main goal scoring threat -- following in the footsteps of fellow Argentine forward Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 207 goals in a nine-year spell with La Viola -- there is a lot of pressure on his young shoulders. But the 23-year-old was clearly up to the challenge has scored his country's third goal in Los Angeles.

"Ever since I was a boy my dad told me that one day I would be here," a delighted Simeone told reporters. "No matter the rival, there was a lot of anxiety to see this new Argentina. In the first half we did everything we had to do."

After the match, Simeone tweeted a picture of himself as a mascot alongside his father 18 years ago twinned with the image of his goal, with and a caption which read: "Exciting! Just to say...always fight for your dreams."

Gonzalo Martinez got Argentina off the mark from the penalty spot after 27 minutes, before Giovani Lo Celso doubled their lead eight minutes later with a sweetly struck half volley from 25 yards.

Simeone scored the third minutes before half-time to complete the scoring before the game petered out in a second half following a raft of substitutions.

But the win was a welcome tonic for a team that disappointed in the World Cup, handing caretaker coach Lionel Scaloni a solid start.

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