Published on : 24/09/2022 – 04:22
Miami (AFP) – Two goals, decisive action, a lot of energy: Lionel Messi, confirming his excellent form two months before the World Cup, presided over Argentina’s easy victory against Honduras (3-0) on Friday in a friendly match played in Miami (UNITED STATES).
“La Pulga” (the chip) is not yet, far from it, a player of Inter Miami, David Beckham’s club playing in MLS who would like to attract him to Florida after his adventure at Paris SG , but if he becomes one day, he will know that the fervor will not be feigned to see him play.
It must be said that in a Hard Rock Stadium filled with 64,420 spectators vibrating like in Buenos Aires, Messi made sure to give them their money’s worth, by being in all the good moves of the Albiceleste, now undefeated in 34 matches, and which imposed itself without flinching and could even have made the bill more salty for the Hondurans.
His uncontrolled lob about twenty meters from the opposing cages, after an interception by Enzo Fernandez who had just come into play, was a model of inspiration, ease and technical mastery, for his team’s third goal (69th) then ultra-dominant. His 88th achievement in 163 selections.
Earlier, just before the break, as a good captain, he had quietly scored the 2-0 penalty, taking the goalkeeper on the wrong foot (45 + 2), to kill any semblance of suspense.
Close to the triple
It was his judicious opening over the defense in the 16th minute that found Papu Gómez on the left side, who crossed back towards Lautaro Martínez, for the opener.
After which, Messi was the target of a shoulder blow as violent as it is illicit from Deybi Flores, rightly warned by the referee (20th). Which gave rise to an additional clash among others in this particularly tense first act.
The Argentinian N.10 could have added one or two goals to his credit, if he had not missed his recovery off balance in the box, the ball passing over his left foot after being deflected by a defender ( 44th), or if his powerful recovery had not taken off too much at the entrance to the area (56th).
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He thought he had scored the hat-trick in the 85th minute, taking the ball acrobatically in the area, but he narrowly missed the target.
With this excellent performance, Messi confirmed that he was going through a good period, interviewed in the jersey of PSG since the start of the season, whether in the French championship or in the Champions League.
Enough to maintain the dreams of glory of Argentine fans two months before the World Cup in Qatar, where their team will face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in Group C.
Until then, the Argentinians will play another preparatory meeting against Jamaica on Tuesday in Harrison (New Jersey).
© 2022 AFP