ARG 2-0 PAN HIGHLIGHTS: Almada scores, Messi completes 800 career goals as Argentina beats Panama

ARG vs PAN: Follow for live score, updates and highlights from the international friendly between Argentina and Panama.

Published : Mar 24, 2023 04:13 IST - 9 MINS READ

Argentina captain Lionel Messi.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
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Argentina captain Lionel Messi. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s highlights of the international friendly tie between Argentina and Panama, happening at the El Monumental stadium. This was Nigamanth who brought you all the updates.

FULL-TIME

And that marks the end of an eventful friendly tie! Argentina beats Panama by two goals to nil courtesy of Almada and Messi. Scaloni’s men were brilliant throughout the contest and have deservedly taken the game in favour of them. 800th career goal for Messi and what a way to bring it up, after finding the crossbar twice, just magical. The Argentine national team, which also hosts Curacao on March 28 in the province of Santiago del Estero, will travel on March 27 to Paraguay to receive a tribute from the South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, for winning its country’s third World Cup in Qatar last year. 

88’ GOOOOAAALLLL

Free-kick yet again! AND THIS TIME HE SCORESS!!!!! WHAT A WAY TO BRING UP HIS 800TH CAREER GOALL!!!! THE ONE AND ONLY! A curling left footer that crashes on to the top right corner as Guerra looks helplessly.

86’

Messi comes close to scoring yet again. He gets the ball near the 30-yard mark, three defenders converge in front of him, he tries to evade them but all he can do is put a short pass towards L. Martinez. His shot is also blocked

82’

Messi gets the ball right at the edge of the box. He wastes no time and puts in a shot but its weak and Guerra saves it without trouble

80’

Yet another free-kick for Argentina and at a doable distance for Messi too. But this time it is nowhere near the goal

77’ GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL

FOURTH TIME LUCKY!!!! ARGENTINA GETS A FREE-KICK, MESSI TAKES IT AND HITS THE CROSSBAR YET AGAIN BUT ALMADA IS THERE TO TAP IT IN!

73’

Dybala goes down inside the box, referee decides to play advantage seeing Messi advance into the box. Messi heads it but it is a tad bit high as the ball lands on top of the net. Argentine players surround the ref, demanding a penalty but he stays with his decision

71’

Messi, outside the box, gets creative and finds Acuna inside the box with a chip over three defenders. But the latter fails to convert it on the volley. Goal kick for Panama

68’

Dybala gets the ball on the right flank, puts in a cross in an attempt to find Alvarez inside the box but it goes out for a goal kick

62’

Messi from the middle finds Martinez on the left and gets the ball back inside the box. He puts in a shot but miscues it and the defenders gang up to clear it

YELLOW CARD

Farina gets booked for his challenge on Lautaro Martinez

57’

Excellent curling effort from Di Maria outside the box. Guerra, as brilliant as ever, dives to save it. Alvarez tries to capitalise on the rebound but gets tripped off a defender. Huge appeal for a penalty but the referee thinks otherwise

55’

Yet another free-kick for Argentina. SO CLOSE!! Guerra stops Messi yet again as he jumps and gets a faint touch on the ball as it brushes past the corssbar

51’

Free kick for Argentina after Enzo gets fouled. Messi takes it. Yet another left footer and this time Guerra makes a brilliant save!

46’

Almada goes for glory from long range but the shot is well wide

Substitutions for Argentina

When you’re the GOAT

Galvan’s challenge on Messi left the Argentine with a bloody knee.
Galvan’s challenge on Messi left the Argentine with a bloody knee. | Photo Credit: AP
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Galvan’s challenge on Messi left the Argentine with a bloody knee. | Photo Credit: AP

45’

Corner for Argentina and Messi gets ready to take it. Nothing from it. Just one minute added. Game stays goalless at half-time. Argentina could’ve been two goals up but luck has not favoured the world champions yet. Interesting second half on the cards

44’

BRILLIANT SAVE! Wonderful long range strike from Enzo Fernandez and an equally excellent save from Guerra as he dives full length to keep the ball out

43’

Dangerous link up between Messi and Di Maria inside the box but the latter’s shot gets blocked

41’

Just under five minutes from half-time and it’s still 0-0. But the crowd is as lively as ever as they continue to back Messi and co.

Premier League’s costliest man sports a new look
37’

Messi gets the ball inside the box, tries to evade two defenders but his shot gets blocked

36’

Fight for possession heats up near the half line as both teams struggle to find a breakthrough. Argentina, in particular, have been unlucky in front of the goal

32’

Di Maria finds Molina on the right lane with an inch perfect through ball. The latter tries to set up Alvarez inside the box but Guerra’s proactive move keeps the danger away

29’

Di Maria tries his luck from long range but the shot is just not up to his standards. Well wide of the post and is deposited into the stands

27’

Quick counter from Argentina as Alvarez goes deep into the right final third. He puts in a cross, Di Maria leaves it expertly as Enzo tries to hit it but gets blocked

26’

Laid-back approach from the world champions as they take it slow and into their own half

24’

Beautiful through ball from Di Maria towards Mac Allister inside the box but it is just out of the reach for the Brighton man

21’

CHANCE! Julian Alvarez gets the ball inside the box on the right. He puts in a low kept cross but it misses all three Argentina players inside as it goes faster than expected

17’

Free kick at a dangerous position. Messi takes it. A LEFT FOOTED CURLER RATTLES THE POST! SO CLOSE! That would’ve been a fantastic way to achieve 800 career goals for the PSG man but it is what it is!

15’ YELLOW CARD

Galvan gets booked for a needless tackle on Messi. Murillo’s sliding tackle was more than enough to stop Messi, who broke away. But Galvan from an awkward direction slid on to Messi’s ankle to get a deserved yellow

Milestones galore

Although this is an international friendly, this tie holds a greater significance for two reasons. One - the first match for La Albieceleste after their World Cup triumph. Two - Messi might just become only the second ever player in football history with 800 career goals. He just needs to net one to achieve this feat!

13’

Quick counter from Argentina as Tagliafico runs through the left lane. He then puts in a cross in an attempt to find Molina but gets intercepted

12’

Throw in for Panama as Otamendi clears a through ball that came in dangerously. Quintero throws it but fails to find any Panama players.

11’

Free kick for Argentina as Tagliafico gets pushed

9’

High octane attack from Argentina. Messi gets the ball in the middle, dribbles past a couple of defenders before finding Di Maria on the left. He links Messi up but three defenders surround him to clear the ball

7’

Anderson toys with a couple of Argentina forwards as he gets control of the ball deep inside Panama’s half before getting fouled by Mac Allister. Free kick for Panama

5’

Ramos flicks a searching cross from the left lane in an attempt to find Murillo inside the box but Otamendi intercepts with a header. Corner for Panama that is well defended

3’

A solo run from Lionel Messi rattles the defense. The PSG man then tries his luck from a fair distance but the shot is too weak to test Guerra’s skills

Kick off!

Positive intent right from the start. Angel Di Maria gets the ball in the middle and plays a brilliant through ball inside the box towards Mac Allister but a deft defensive work averts danger. Coner for ARG but nothing from it

Home fans roar

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, walk into the ground as the crowd goes crazy. The World Cup trophy is displayed in front of the tunnel. Fireworks lit up for the Champions as well. Messi looks emotional as a full-house El Monumental sing the national anthem! Lionel Scaloni is seen teary eyed on the sidelines. Panama’s national anthem plays next.

Grand stage set for the World Champions

A giant special jersey with “Champions” at the back of it, to commemorate Argentina’s World Cup triumph is being unveiled in front of a packed crowd at the El Monumental stadium. Deserved!

STARTING LINEUPS!
Argentina: Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez, Di Maria
Panama: Guerra; Anderson, Ramos, Peralta, Farina, Galvan; Murillo, Gudino, Quintero; Cordoba, Stephens

Sorcerer supereme:Lionel Messi is just two goals shy of hitting the 100-goal mark on the international circuit and will be aiming to achieve the feat here in front of the home crowd. Additionally, the PSG star needs just one goal to complete 800 career goals!

Built different: Argentina have lost just one of their last 44 international games across all competitions since the summer of 2019 — an upsetting 2-1 group stage defeat to Saudi Arabia at the World Cup.

Predicted 11
Argentina: Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, L. Martinez, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez, Di Maria
Panama: Guerra; Anderson, Ramos, Peralta, Farina, Galvan; Murillo, Camargo, Quintero; Cordoba, Stephens
Form Guide
Argentina: W-W-W-W-W
Panama: W-L-D-D-D

PREVIEW:

Having fulfilled a lifetime dream, Lionel Messi will get to celebrate with Argentina’s fans on Thursday as they play their first match after winning the World Cup in Qatar last year.

More than 80,000 people will attend the Monumental Stadium in Argentina’s capital for a friendly against Panama.

While many would have seen winning the biggest trophy in football as the perfect note on which to an end an illustrious international career, the 35-year-old Messi has decided he has more to give for his country.

“Leo (Messi) is fine,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “Until he says otherwise, he will continue to come. He is happy on the pitch, with the national team.”

The Paris St Germain forward could make it a night to remember if gets on the scoresheet as he needs one more goal to reach the 800-mark in his professional career, although his rival Cristiano Ronaldo remains the all-time leader with 828.

A double would see Messi, Argentina’s record scorer, reach a century of goals for his country.

Messi, who also led Argentina to the 2021 Copa America, was named FIFA player of the year in February for the second time, capping a remarkable few months.

When will Argentina vs Panama international friendly match ve played?

Argentina vs Panama match will be played on 24th March

What time will Argentina vs Panama international friendly match kick-off?

Argentina vs Panama international friendly match will begin at 5:30 AM IST

How do I watch live streaming of Argentina vs Panama international friendly match?

Argentina vs Panama international friendly match will not be streamed in India.

Which TV Channel will telecast Argentina vs Panama international friendly match live?

The Argentina vs Panama international friendly match will not be telecasted in India.

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