The reigning world champions Argentina secured a win without convincing against a resilient Mauritania in a friendly match in Buenos Aires (2-1) on Friday, as part of their preparations for the upcoming World Cup in June.
Mauritania did not give up easily. In a friendly match organized on Friday in Buenos Aires, Argentina defeated the Mourabitounes (2-1), who managed to score late in the game through Jordan Lefort. Recently naturalized, the 32-year-old Angers defender earned his first international cap.
Due to the absence of a finalissima (match between the winners of the Euro and Copa America) against Spain in Qatar due to the conflict in the Middle East, Argentina only faced Mauritania (115th in the FIFA rankings) and Zambia (91st) on Tuesday to fulfill their international window.
Messi enters after half-time
With Lionel Messi on the bench at the start, Albiceleste dominated the Mauritanian camp, opening the scoring in the 16th minute through Chelsea striker Enzo Fernandez, who converted a cross inside the box (1-0). Nico Paz doubled the lead with his left foot from a 25-meter free-kick straight up (2-0, 32nd), his first goal for the national team.
Coming on after half-time, Messi was greeted with applause at the Bombonera in what could be one of his final matches on Argentine soil before retiring from international football. However, under the rain, the second half offered little excitement for coach Lionel Scaloni, except for the confirmation of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s quality saves against the physically imposing Mauritanians.
Despite their inaccuracies, the world champions even conceded a goal in stoppage time, with a loose ball in the box pounced on by Angers defender Jordan Lefort, a Mauritanian naturalized player, to reward the visitors’ efforts (2-1, 90+4).
