Shouldn't be too much injury time allocated by the referee here. El Salvador are well beaten now and the unlikely just became the impossible. Decent effort, but they'll taste defeat today.
88'
F. Mancuello has scored a goal for Argentina!
Ó. Cerén enters the game and replaces R. Renderos.
GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL FOR ARGENTINA!!! Mancuelo steps up and whips a superb free kick right over the head of the despairing Carillo into the top left corner! Definitely wind-assisted, but a great strike nonetheless from a tight angle! Two-nil - GAME OVER!
86'
Argentina once again get the free kick and on this occasion it is deep down the right wing. Mancuelo and Lavezzi stand over it, but the left-footer pulls rank and the PSG attacker is sent away. Let's see what they can make from this.
85'
I. Herrera enters the game and replaces A. Álvarez.
84'
Doesn't look like we will be seeing Messi get a run out today, which is disappointing for the fans in attendance at Fedex Field, but it is understandable considering the knock he picked up in training. Can't take chances with the fitness of the best player in the world!
82'
Pastore turns sharply 30 yards out and glides forward before threading a lovely pass in behind the defence for Lavezzi, but the former Napoli man just goes a little too early and finds himself flagged as offside. Good defensive line from the Salvadorans there.
80'
El Salvador are running out of time to pull off an unlikely draw here. Their real issue is that Argentina have looked extremely comfortable for the majority of the second half, so clawing a goal back doesn't look to be on the cards for the Central American side.
78'
J. Pastore enters the game and replaces C. Tevez.
The substitutions are coming thick and fast now and the latest sees Tevez, who was denied a goal by the brilliance of Carillo, coming off to be replaced by Javier Pastore, who is certainly capable of coming up with a piece of magic.
76'
P. Punyed enters the game and replaces R. Menjívar.
Lavezzi manages to get into a dangerous position inside the box to the right-hand side and side steps the defender before lashing a strike at goal. Decent attempt from the PSG man but it just lacks the direction required and ends up flashing over the bar.
Minute
Description
74'
First change of the match from Tata Martino and it sees Di Maria come off to be replaced by Federico Mancuello, who features for Independiente at club level. Let's see if the 26-year-old can make a positive impact.
73'
F. Mancuello enters the game and replaces Á. Di María.
72'
FANTASTIC SAVE FROM CARILLO! Musacchio gets ahead of his marker at the front post and bullets a brilliant header towards the bottom corner. It looked destined to find the net but once again the El Salvador goalkeeper denies Argentina with a truly outstanding save! Man of the match so far!
70'
A noticeable aspect of Argentina's play tonight has been their disciplined desire to play the ball out from the back, starting with the goalkeeper. Guzman has proved tonight he is no slouch in possession, despite the heavy pressure put on him by the El Salvador attackers.
68'
Orban moves ahead to get involved in an Argentina attack but decided against whipping a cross inside and instead reverts back to Di Maria. The latter takes it upon himself to send a high ball into the area, but Renderos is on hand to easily clear away.
67'
K. Santamaría enters the game and replaces J. Alas.
66'
Another change coming up for El Salvador and it will see Alas, who has shown some impressive turns of pace, replaced by Kevin Santamaria. Roca just utilising the squad available to him now. Expect plenty more changes from both head coaches.
64'
El Salvador may be a goal behind here but they aren't showing too much desire to change from their rigid 5-4-1 formation. The scoreline may remain lower than expected, but they aren't an attacking presence on the game at the moment.
62'
This result may depend on how ambitious Argentina want to be. The reason for Lionel Messi's omission from the starting line-up is a foot injury picked up this week in training, so it is unlikely we will see the Barcelona star risked today to come on and grab a goal.
60'
Perhaps predictably, this second period has belonged to Argentina so far. El Salvador battled admirably in the opening 45 minutes but the difference in fitness and class is beginning to shine through. Still plenty of time to claw back an equaliser, though.
59'
R. Burgos enters the game and replaces N. Bonilla.
58'
Albert Roca makes his opening change of the match as he introduces Rafael Burgos in place of Bonilla, who has been frustrated as the lone striker for El Salvador so far. Let's see if his replacement can have more of an impact.
56'
WHAT A SAVE FROM CARILLO! Tevez takes on the defence with a penetrating run into the box and then unleashes a sizzling strike towards the top right corner, but he is foiled by the El Salvador keeper, who somehow manages to get across to turn over the bar!
54'
R. Renderos is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
GOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL FOR ARGENTINA! THE SOUTH AMERICANS OPEN THE SCORING! Banega collects possession 35 yards out and hits a speculative strike at goal which deflects off the foot of Renderos before looping over the keeper! One-nil in fortuitous circumstances for Martino's men!
52'
Di Maria picks out a much better pass this time as he finds Tevez 20 yards out. The Juventus striker gives the keeper the eyes and then whips a right-footed strike towards the bottom left corner, but his attempt shaves the outside of the woodwork! How close was that?! So unlucky!
50'
Guzman rather ill-advisedly comes off his line to collect an El Salvador through pass. Instead of clearing right away the Argentina goalkeeper opts to take the ball for a walk, and to be fair to him he keeps a cool head to eventually play inside to Pereyra before heading back between the sticks.
48'
Argentina get another corner kick early on in this second period. Di Maria stands over the set-piece yet but yet again it is a disappointing delivery from the former Real Madrid winger.
46'
The second half is under way between El Salvador and Argentina! Will we get an early goal after the break?!
43'
El Salvador can definitely be proud of their first half display here. They have certainly not been shy to put the boot in at times, but they were never going to outplay Argentina through creativity and skill.
41'
Wonderful play by Tevez! The former Manchester City man twists and turns on the edge of the area before bursting into the channel with an authoritative run. He stands a cross to the back post but Carillo plucks it out of the air!
39'
Lavezzi is just fouled on the very edge of the box and Argentina get the free kick. Di Maria steps up and curls a beauty of a strike up and over the wall, but again Carillo foils Argentina with a great save down to his left. He scrambled to pick up the rebound and eventually concedes the corner.
37'
Musacchio moves play out from the back and looks to distribute a pass into midfield, but ends up being very cynically hacked down by Bonilla, who somehow evades a yellow card. The referee is guilty of being lenient because this is a friendly - there has been at least four clear bookings that have went unpunished.
35'
Orban decides to get into the attacking side of things as he finds himself deep down the left touchline. The left-back curls a teasing cross to the back post which floats over the despairing Carillo, but Larin is on hand to clear before Lavezzi can get involved.
33'
Alvarez gets into a lovely position once again in between the Argentina defence and midfield and looks to find Bonilla with an elaborate, chipped pass. Perhaps just a little too fancy from the 29-year-old, as his compatriot doesn't read it, which allows Argentina to clear.
31'
Alas collects the ball from a cleared Argentina corner kick and aims to catalyse a counterattack with a run down the left. Alvarez eventually receives possession and looks to fire a pass to Larin, but Musacchio is well-positioned to intercept with a chested touch.
29'
SAVE FROM CARILLO! Higuain picks up the ball down the left wing and typically cuts inside on his right foot before smashing a strike towards the far right corner. The El Salvador goalkeeper not only makes the stop but makes sure the danger is cleared out of the box!
27'
Di Maria looks to open up his box of tricks down the right wing and make his way into the box, but he Argentine is stopped in his tracks thanks to an excellently timed challenge from Larin, who collects possession before moving play up the park for El Salvador.
25'
Argentina are getting so many set-piece opportunities here and sooner or later El Salvador are going to be punished for the amount of free kicks they are giving away. Di Maria curls the latest one in and Musacchio stretches to get on the end of the subsequent Higuain glance to the back post, but the defender can't get there in the end.
23'
Argentina are awarded another free kick, this time near the corner flag down the right-hand side. Di Maria is tasked with the set-piece and fires it towards the front post for Tevez, who manages to glance a header towards goal. The Juventus man just got too much on it though and the attempt flies over.
21'
Things are getting a little heated out there even though this is just a friendly clash. Ceren gives away a foul in a dangerous position as he comes right through the back of Pereyra with a poorly timed tackle. Free kick to Argentina around 30 yards out.
19'
We get our first real glimpse of Di Maria as the Manchester United man picks up the ball near the halfway line before looking for Higuain with a diagonal. It looks as if the striker is going to latch on to it but Flores retreats back and blocks the path to goal. Good defending in the end.
17'
Zabaleta shows his attacking ambition for the first time in the match as he powers ahead down the right wing before whipping a teasing cross into the box. Carillo reads it well though and proactively comes off his line to claim out of the air.
15'
Tevez collects the ball to feet around 25 yards out and turns sharply before bursting into the right channel. He attempts to find Higuain with a low cross into the box but it is routinely cleared by the El Salvador defence.
13'
Higuain runs in behind the El Salvador defence to take a lovely pass out of the air. The former Real Madrid attacker beautifully dinks Carillo but the linesman already has his flag up. Would have been a wonderful goals, but offside was the correct decision.
11'
It has been a pretty impressive opening few minutes from El Salvador here. The Central American outfit have shown no signs of fear and it is making for some pretty pacey attacks towards the Argentina goal. Tata Martino's men obviously still showing a threat though.
9'
Flores runs down the right wing on the overlap and looks to get the better of Orban to latch on to a pass over the top of the Argentine defence. In the end Funes Mori covers across and shields the ball out solidly for a goal kick.
7'
Alvarez powerfully drives forward through the middle and releases Bonilla down the inside right channel. The strikes takes on Musacchio before dinking a cross into the box, but there are no takers for El Salvador! Where was the support?!
5'
Bonilla collects the ball inside the Argentine box and is clumsily bundled over by Funes Mori, who puts his hands up in innocence! The referee waves play on! That looked like it should have been a penalty!
3'
What a sitter from Higuain! Musacchio latches on to a corner kick to the front post and flicks it on to his compatriot, who is standing completely free. The Napoli striker manages to get the header away but ends up sending his attempt over the bar! Argentina should have an early lead!
1'
We are under way in this international friendly clash!
Good evening folks! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the international friendly between El Salvador and Argentina from FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland!
I'm Martin Macdonald, and I'll be taking you through the action!
Argentina are still licking their wounds since losing the World Cup final to Germany last summer, but new head coach Tata Martino has managed to win three out of his opening five matches since taking over as boss, albeit all in friendly encounters. Tonight, the South American nation continue their preparations for the forthcoming Copa America tournament as they travel to Maryland in the United States to face El Salvador.
Central American nation El Salvador are competing for the first time in four months, having previously ended a run of four straight defeats with a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua. The side are currently situated 87 places below Argentina in the Fifa world rankings, which shows the gulf in class between the two.
The coach of El Salvador is a familiar face to this game's biggest star. Albert Roca, who took charge of the outfit in 2014, was a coach at Barcelona between 2003 and 2008, which gave him a close-up view of the meteoric rise of Argentine captain, Lionel Messi.
TEAM NEWS...
El Salvador (5-4-1): Carillo; Flores, Mendoza, Molina, Renderos, Larin; Alvarez, Ceren, Menjivar, Alas; Bonilla.
Argentina (4-2-3-1): Guzman; Zabaleta, Musacchio, Funes Mori, Orban; Pereyra, Banega; Di Maria Lavezzi, Tevez; Higuain.
The players have made their way to the field and we await the national anthems!
Half time in the United States. El Salvador and Argentina go into the break at a 0-0 stalemate in this international friendly match. The South American side have certainly had the majority of the chances, and have looked dangerous from a variety of set pieces, but Roca's outfit have doggedly fought and have even looked a threat themselves on the counter. Interesting second period in store!
Full time in Fedex Field. Argentina record a relatively comfortable 2-0 friendly win over a battling El Salvador side in Maryland, United States. The Central American outfit can certainly be proud of their performance tonight, but class eventually shone through, with a fortuitous Banega strike and a wonderful free kick from Mancuelo eventually sealing the win for Tata Martino's men. I'm Martin Macdonald, thanks for joining us, see you next time!
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