Argentina 3-0 El Salvador, Highlights: Messi unavailable; Romero, Fernandez and Lo Celso score in comfortable win

Argentina comfortably beats El Salvador 3-0 in its first match of 2024 courtesy goals from Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernandez and Giovani Lo Celso. The world champion side next takes on Costa Rica in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Argentina runs down the clock and that’s it for tonight.

Clumsy challenge from Lautaro Martinez on a Salvadorian player but he avoids being booked.

Gonzalez comes out of his box in a complicated one-on-one situation and kicks the ball out for a throw-in for Argentina. 

Long-range right-footed curler from Paredes but Gonzalez has no issues in deflecting it behind for a corner kick for Argentina.

As expected, it has been a tough test for El Salvador. Alexi Mac Allister earns a corner after another heroic save from Gonzalez.

More changes. German Fuentes and Jeremy Garay come on for Jairo Henriquez and Nelson Bonilla.

Into the final 15 minutes of this contest. Some fresh legs on the pitch for both teams. 

El Salvador replaces Darwin Ceren with Melvin Cartagena.

Argentina brings on Alexis Mac Allister and Nahuel Molina for Lo Celso and Romero, the goal scorers.

Argentina continues to enjoy a large share of possession. Garnacho wins a corner. Short corner taken quickly but it does not materialise into anything significant.

Multiple saves from Mario Gonzalez in the space of a few seconds. He is single-handedly helping El Salvador avoid the defeat by a huge margin.

El Salvador brings on Pablo Punyed and Julio Sibrian to replace Narciso Orellana and Bryan Tamacas.

Argentina replaces Rodrigo De Paul with Facundo Buonanotte.

Jorge Cruz knew what he was doing as he dragged down Di Maria who was headed towards the penalty area. Cruz gets a yellow card.

Argentina continues to look for more goals. No relief for El Salvador as it is forced to keep sitting deep in its own half.

Powerful left-footed strike from Di Maria from the edge of the box but its towards the centre and Gonzalez is able to make the save.

Corner for Argentina taken by Di Maria but no harm done to the Salvadorian goal this time.

More changes for the South Americans. Valentin Barco replaces Nicolas Tagliafico.

GOALLLL!!!!!! Things just keep getting better and better for Argentina. Assist from Lautaro Martinez who plays Lo Celso through the last defender. Lo Celso beats Gonzalez and finds the bottom left corner with a sharp left-footed finish.

Di Maria wins a corner for Argentina. The attack from world champion team is still on!

Yellow card for Nicolas Orellana for a nasty tackle from behind on Lo Celso which infuriates the Argentine players.

Nicolas Otamendi and Alejandro Garnacho come on for Nicolas Gonzalez and Enzo Fernandez.

Right. Can El Salvador make a comeback or will Argentina score more goals? Let’s find out!

Argentina had 79 per cent possession in the first half and took 13 shots at El Salvador’s goal. One way traffic all the way.

First half is done and safe to say, barring the odd one or two occasions, it has been all Argentina. Cristian Romero’s header gave the early lead before Enzo Fernandez scored the second minutes before the half-time whistle to put Lionel Scaloni’s side in a comfortable position despite the absence of skipper Lionel Messi.

Argentina is clearly not done yet as here comes another shot. This time, a left-footed strike from Lautaro which Gonzalez saves.

GOALLLLLL!!!!!!!!! Enzo Fernandez won’t score an easier goal than this in his career. Brilliant move from the right flank by Argentina before a mishit volley from Lo Celso finds Fernandez at the left post who makes no mistake from point-blank range.

A late challenge by Melvin Cruz on Lautaro Martinez. Argentina takes a quick free-kick but the move ends with the offside flag being raised.

Rodrigo De Paul tries a right-footed curler from the edge of the box but his shot is blocked by a defender before the ball is pouched by Gonzalez.

Foul by Nehuen Perez on Jorge Cruz and El Salvador receives a free-kick near its own box. 

A patient move from the Argentine midfield before passing the ball to Lautaro inside the box but his shot is saved and Scaloni’s side gets yet another corner kick.

So close!!!! El Salvador comes ever so close to find the equaliser as an on-target shot from Jairo Henriquez is deflected behind for a corner by Romero.

Lovely left-footed strike from Di Maria from close range forces Gonzalez to make a save at the near post. Moments later, the Salvadorian goalkeeper is flat on his back after engaging in an aerial duel with an Argentine player. 

De Paul hit in the face as he fights for the ball on the left flank with a Salvadorian player. No harm done though.

El Salvador under tremendous pressure inside its own box as wave after wave of Argentine attack approaches its goal.

Foul by Melvin Cruz on Enzo Fernandez and it is a free-kick for Argentina. However, Paredes’ effort takes a deflection and goes out for a corner.

GOALLLLLLLL!!!!!!! Corner for Argentina and Cristian Romero, placed in the centre of the box, heads the ball perfectly past the Salvadorian goalkeeper to put the world champion side ahead. Argentina 1-0 El Salvador.

Lionel Scaloni’s men trying their best to play the smooth and free-flowing football they are known for but so far, they have not been able to execute something clean and threatening.

Foul by Lo Celso on a Salvadorian defender as he tries to win the ball near the box and it results in a free-kick for El Salvador.

El Salvador on the counter attack! It could possibly have become a one-on-one situation for Emi Martinez before defender Tagliafico made a timely clearance.

Shot from Lautaro Martinez blocked by the Salvadorian defence before being punched above the bar by goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez. Corner for Argentina but the world champion side fails to convert it into a goal.

This time, Argentina tries a slick one-touch move through the midfield with Rodrigo De Paul doing much of the work but nothing comes off it. 

First corner kick of the match and it is El Salvador who earns it. It tries the short corner routine before crossing it into the box but Emiliano Martinez pouches the ball easily.

Argentina tries to make a move with an aerial pass along the left flank but the ball is headed out for a throw-in by a Salvadorian defender.

The first half is underway. It sure is going to be a tough test for El Salvador. 

We are minutes away from the kickoff at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, USA as the two teams step on the pitch but first, it is time for the two national anthems.

Argentina

November 22, 2023: Beat Brazil 1-0

November 17, 2023: Lost 0-2 to Uruguay

October 18, 2023: Beat Peru 2-0

October 13, 2023: Beat Paraguay 1-0

September 13, 2023: Beat Bolivia 3-0

El Salvador

March 21, 2024: Drew 1-1 with Bonaire

February 3, 2024: Lost 0-2 to Costa Rica

January 20, 2024: Drew 0-0 with Inter Miami

October 18, 2023: Drew 0-0 with Martinique

October 14, 2023: Lost 0-1 to Martinique

There are two recorded instances of the two sides facing each other. Argentina first took on El Salvador in a group stage match of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. The team, which also featured legendary player Diego Maradona, beat El Salvador 2-0 courtesy goals from Daniel Pasarella and Daniel Bertoni. 

The second and the most recent meeting between the two teams took place in 2015 in a friendly fixture where Argentina again won 2-0. Ever Banega and Federico Mancuello scored the goals in the match, which like today’s fixture, took place in USA.

The Argentina squad features four players aged under 20. One of the biggest surprises of coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad is 19-year-old left back and midfielder Valentín Barco. He joined Brighton less than two months ago and has had an impact at the English Premier League club.

The other three teenagers in the world champion squad are forwards; Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte and Monza’s Valentín Carboni.

Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the international friendly between reigning world champion Argentina and El Salvador. It is Argentina’s first fixture this year and it will hope to start on a positive note as the preparation continues for Copa America title defence as well as the Paris Olympics.