Argentina edged Australia 1-0 in their final preparation match before the 2010 World Cup qualifiers begin in an entertaining match at The Melbourne Cricket Ground infront of over 70,000 fans.
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Both sides created good opportunities to go ahead in the opening minutes, but couldn’t capitalize on their chances.
Argentina looked particularly dangerous down the flanks, with the speed of star strikers Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi, but Australia held their ground.
In the 15th minute Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi almost put the Argentines infront, when he unleashed a superb 25 metre drive that beat Mark Schwarzer, but came off the left post.
After the scare the Socceroos began to come more into the match, and could have gone ahead in the 24th minute when a sensational Marco Bresciano freekick hit the crossbar, and almost crossed Roberto Abbondanzieri’s line.
But Argentina, who lost 3-0 against Brazil in the Copa America final earlier in the year, took the lead only three minutes after the restart.
Messi swung a precise freekick into the area from the right wing and Bayern Munich defensive midfielder Martin Demichelis outjumped his marker to head home.
The Argentines looked dangerous after going ahead, particularly through Messi, Tevez, and Federico Insua, who were constant threats to the Australian defense.
Australia’s best opportunity to draw level was when a lobbed effort from defender David Carney almost fooled Abbondanzieri.
The Argentines picked up a well deserved victory in a difficult encounter that will serve as good preparation for the upcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers, that kick off next month when they entertain Chile at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
zoom - galleria
Both sides created good opportunities to go ahead in the opening minutes, but couldn’t capitalize on their chances.
Argentina looked particularly dangerous down the flanks, with the speed of star strikers Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi, but Australia held their ground.
In the 15th minute Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi almost put the Argentines infront, when he unleashed a superb 25 metre drive that beat Mark Schwarzer, but came off the left post.
After the scare the Socceroos began to come more into the match, and could have gone ahead in the 24th minute when a sensational Marco Bresciano freekick hit the crossbar, and almost crossed Roberto Abbondanzieri’s line.
But Argentina, who lost 3-0 against Brazil in the Copa America final earlier in the year, took the lead only three minutes after the restart.
Messi swung a precise freekick into the area from the right wing and Bayern Munich defensive midfielder Martin Demichelis outjumped his marker to head home.
The Argentines looked dangerous after going ahead, particularly through Messi, Tevez, and Federico Insua, who were constant threats to the Australian defense.
Australia’s best opportunity to draw level was when a lobbed effort from defender David Carney almost fooled Abbondanzieri.
The Argentines picked up a well deserved victory in a difficult encounter that will serve as good preparation for the upcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers, that kick off next month when they entertain Chile at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.