Argentina defeated Italy 2-1 in Wednesday night’s friendly at the Stadio Olimpico.
Lorenzo Isigne’s late goal was a small consolation after Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega scored superb goals, to give the Albiceleste a deserved win over the Azzurri.
It was Argentina who started the match the quickest with their wingers, Erik Lamela and Angel Di Maria, creating several opportunities including one which Gianluigi Buffon had to dive low to save from the threatening Higuain.
The South American’s confidence grew as both Higuain and Di Maria continued to cause the Italian back line problems with Cesare Prandelli’s side being outplayed on every part of the pitch.
However it appeared as though the Azzurri had finally felt their way into the contest with just over a quarter of an hour gone though the Argentinian stopper, Mariano Andujar, had yet to be properly tested.
Then with just 21 minutes on the clock it was the Albiceleste who got their just rewards. Italy’s Marco Veratti played a sloppy pass allowing Lamela to put Higuain through on goal, and the new Napoli man finished strongly, thumping the ball past Buffon.
The Italians responded well to going behind with Montolivo playing some sumptuous passes to the front men though Andujar, was still fairly inactive.
The Azzurri started to become the dominant force in the match with Candreva causing Alejandro Sabella’s side some serious concerns and it was his play that nearly led to a Giorgio Chiellini equaliser.
With a minute of the first-half remaining Argentina should have made it 2-0 but Rodrigo Palacio could only put Di Maria’s teasing ball over the bar.
The sides came out for the second-half with both managers not appearing to be happy with their sides, as both made substitutions.
The South Americans came out in the same fashion as they left the first and Sabella’s substitutions payed off straight away with Lamela’s replacement, Banega, slamming the ball into the left hand corner of Buffon’s net to give Argentina comfortable lead.
The Argentines continued their dominance with the Azzurri’s substitute keeper Federico Marchetti having to make a superb double save, to deny Palacio and Higuain, after being on the pitch for just two minutes.
Italy’s attack looked desolate with their main goal-threat being Chiellini. The Juventus defender was all over the pitch and came close to putting the ball in the back of the net from several corners.
The Italians then had the ball in the back of the net though it was ruled out. A sweet set-piece was delivered by Alessandro Diamanti which Andujar could only parry into the path of substitute Alberto Aquilani.The midfielder turned in the rebound, only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside.
The Azzurri finally got their goal with 75 minutes gone as another substitute , Lorenzo Insigne, struck an excellent curling shot into what had been a very quiet Argentinian net.
Marchetti kept Italy in the contest with a further fantastic stop to deny Di Maria yet Argentina always looked the stronger side, both on the pitch and the scoreboard.
