IDN 0-2 ARG; Highlights: Romero and Paredes on scoresheet as Messi-less Argentina beat Indonesia

The referee blows for full time as Argentina defeat the hosts Indonesia 2-0. It was a comfortable win for the visitors who were without their World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi.

Leandro Paredes opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a long-range strike and Cristian Romero made it two after the break getting on the end of Lo Celso’s corner. The hosts managed to create a few chances with long-throws but Martinez was largely untroubled in the Argentinian goal. The win extends Argentina’s impressive friendly winning run which began in 2019.

Garnacho with a chance and its blocked by the keeper with his feet. Argentina quickly turning over possession to create the chance with some good play by Almada to set Garnacho up.

Ugly foul from Garnacho as he dives in to Mangkualam after the Indonesian captain’s tackle had dispossessed him. 5 minutes of stoppage time.

Indonesia unable to get an attack going. A good spell of possession though for the hosts in the middle third of the pitch.

Thiago Almada, Guido Rodriguez and Giovanni Simeone come in for Paredes, Palacios and Alvarez. New legs in midfield for the visitors as it looks to seal the three points. Yance Sayuri comes on for the hosts.

Julian Alvarez becomes the first player to be booked in today’s match for his foul on Amat.

Argentina give the ball away in the middle of the pitch again. The long ball sends Sulistyawan through on goal but Romero does well to put him off while taking the shot.

Martinez spills the ball following another long throw but the defence are there to clear it away. The hosts troubling the world champions with those long throws.

Ocampos comes on for debutant Buananotte. Another long throw into the box for the hosts, but the defenders manage to clear it away again.

Indonesia spring on the counter after Lo Celso was tackled at the edge of the box. Pezzella does well to brush the attacker out of the way fairly and the ball goes behind for a goal kick.

A free-kick for Indonesia near the half-line following Acuna’s foul on Mangkualam. The ball is sent deep into the box but the Argentinian defence manages to clear.

Argentina almost through on a counter there after Ferdinan had the ball stolen from him but the referee deems it a foul.

Acuna does well on the left flank to beat two defenders and get the ball into the edge of the box. But Buoananotte is not able to control it and the defence clears. Witan Sulaeman is on for the hosts.

Garnacho and Acuna are in for Gonzalez and Medina respectively. The Manchester United youngster is in for his second national team appearance.

Indonesia thronging the box in numbers for a free-kick. Martinez comes for it and claws it away.

Goal Romero!! The following corner from Lo Celso, and Romero makes a late run into the middle to head it past the keeper. The set-piece chances have finally been converted by the visitors.

Corner for Argentina as the long ball over the top by Pezzella is put out by the defender. Lo Celso’s corner doesn’t beat the opposition defenders at the near post.

Scratchy play from both sides as the passes are not finding the intended target. Lo Celso is the latest to lose posession after trying to weave past three players. Chance!! The long thrown-in finds the striker in the box who heads it onto goal and Martinez had to push it over the bar.

The hosts turn over possession in the middle of the pitch and get the counter going. Arhan with a run on the left wing but the defender manages to get it out for a corner.

Indonesia kicks off the second half. Two changes as Dendy Sulistyawan and Pratama Arhan come on.

The visitors head into the break with a lead thanks to a stunning long-range goal from Leandro Paredes. Indonesia too had a wonderful chance to equalise right at the end of first-half stoppage time. But Martinez’s save means the hosts have some work to do in the second-half in front of their fans.

Indonesia never looked much threatening apart from that one opportunity for Drajad and will be looking to up its attacking game. As for Argentina, it will look to be more clinical with their chances and make the most of the set-piece situations it gets. Stay tuned for the second half.

Chance!! What an opportunity for the hosts. The low ball in from the right is met by Drajad but Martinez makes a good low save to parry it back into the box and the defence clears. Half-time whistle blows.

Indonesia with a fast break after winning the ball in defence. But the long ball forward has no takers. The hosts unable to string a few passes and get an attack going. 4 minutes of stoppage time.

Argentina looking for the second goal as the the ball falls to Gonzalez on the left after some good retention by the midfield. But his attempted cross is blocked by the defence.

Goal!! Argentina score at last!! Leandro Paredes’ rocket from 40 yards out finds the top corner. The visitors finally open the scoring after a lot of wasted set-piece chances.

Paredes with another corner for Argentina. Whips it in deep and Romero get his head to it. But the ball goes over the bar and falls on the net behind the goal. Good defence from the Indionesians to ensure Romero did not have a clean jump.

Chance!! A through ball sends Alvarez one-on-one. He manages to round the keeper but the scrambling defenders manage to get a block in. Looks like the ball got stuck between Alvarez’s feet after rounding the keeper, giving the defenders just enough time to get back and make a block.

Medina is fouled by Mangkualam outside the box. Palacios to take the free-kick for Argentina. His shot goes high over the bar and the chance goes begging.

Another set-piece opportunity for Argentina. Lo Celso’s delivery into the box from the corner falls to Palacios. His shot is blocked by a diving defender. Shouts for handball but the referee says no.

Chance!! The Indonesian keeper dives low to his right to get a hand to Gonzalez’s effort, following a cross into the box after Lo Celso was fouled in the Indonesian half.

Wonderful play from Gonzalez and Alvarez as their one-touch football manages to open the Indonesian defence. Gonzalez’s shot though is blocked for another corner. The corner comes into the near post but its defended well by the Indonesians.

Pezzella at the the end of another corner but his header from the edge of the box flies high above the bar. Argentina knocking on the door by putting crosses in from wide areas.

Another low cross into the box from the left by Gonzalez, after a run in to the middle by the debutant Buonanotte. Put out for a corner by the defence. The corner is too deep as Pezzella’s attempted overhead kick trickles behind for a goalkick.

Good play from Argentina as Lo Celso and Alvarez combine with some one touch play. But the low cross into the box has no takers and the defence puts it out for a corner.

A sedate start for the La Albiceleste with Indonesia pressing hard. The crowd fully behind them as each attempted tackle is cheered.

Alvarez with the kick-off at the elora Bung Karno Stadium. The World champions are in their blue and white kit with Indonesia donning their red kit.

Argentina: Martinez; Medina, Pezzella, Romero, Molina; Paredes, Palacios, Lo Celso; Gonzalez, Buonanotte, Alvarez

Indonesia: Sutaryadi; Ramadhani, Amat, Baggott, Mangkualam; Jenner, Klok, Pattynama, Ferdinan; Struick, Drajad

Argentina predicted starting lineup:
Rulli; Molina, Balerdi, Pezzella, Acuna; Paredes, Palacios, Lo Celso; Ocampos, Garnacho, Alvarez

Indonesia predicted starting lineup:
Trisna; Mangkualam, Baggott, Ridho, Amat, Arhan; Sayuri, Klok, Kambuaya, Lilipaly; Sulistyawan

The international friendly match between Indonesia and Argentina will be live streamed in the VU Sport app. The match though is not available for streaming in India.

The match at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. will begin at 6:00 pm IST.

Indonesia will face Argentina in an international friendly for the first time ever at the Ultama Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta. The hosts are in a rich vein of form, losing only one of their last twelve international matches. That loss came against Vietnam in the AFF Championship. In its previous game, Shin tae-yong’s side held Palestine to a 0-0 draw.

Argentina on the other hand come into the game after a win agianst Australia in Beijing. Lionel Messi opened the scoring early, curling one to the top corner from the edge of the box. German Pezzela sealed the result with a late header as Argentina made it three wins in a row on the international stage. Since a 2-2 draw with Uruguay in late 2019, the La Albiceleste have gone on a winning run in friendlies and will be looking to extend that against Indonesia.