Argentina put four past Bolivia in first game since World Cup final defeat

[p]The all-South American contest represented the first of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a]’s two friendlies before the focus turns to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Lionel Messi[/a]’s final international appearance against Benin on October 6.[/p][p]And [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-lautaro/QHk1CXUh/"]Lautaro Martinez[/a] wasted little time in making his case to be a regular starter in the post-Messi era, finding a way past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vizcarra-guillermo/Yc1T8o5h/"]Guillermo Viscarra[/a] shortly before the midway point of the first half.[/p][p][b]The Inter Milan star received possession on the edge of the box and patiently waited for the Bolivian backline to slightly drop, thereby creating the space for him to drill a precise shot into the bottom corner. [/b][/p][p]Prior to the contest, Lionel Scaloni confirmed that no player would wear the special number 10 shirt until after Messi’s farewell game, although [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paz-martinez-nicolas/GG6EYRT0/"]Nico Paz[/a] is likely to be near the front of the queue when the Argentina boss decides on the 39-year-old’s successor.[/p][p][b]As the game neared the half-hour mark, the Como attacker produced a sumptuous finish worthy of the iconic jersey, latching onto [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palacios-exequiel/xEflXBhr/"]Exequiel Palacios[/a]’s defence-splitting pass before delicately lifting over Viscarra to net his second international goal.[/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="e6d61c2d-d9d6-403d-8d62-b6c08fe7913e" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="f6d7794c-0799-4718-8679-03b84024e718" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b]Oozing with confidence, Paz turned provider in the opening stages of the second period, firing in an outswinging free-kick for newly-appointed captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/romero-cristian/jBZTWXMn/"]Cristian Romero[/a] to power a header in off the post, his final act before being swiftly withdrawn in a triple change. [/b][/p][p]Understandably, the substitutions disrupted Argentina’s rhythm, although they still managed to extend their advantage in the closing stages through Flaco Lopez’s first goal for his country.[/p][p][b]Just moments after having an effort ruled out for offside, the substitute battled to win possession in the box and then proceeded to prod the ball home.[/b][/p][embed guid="40a4cc5a-98a6-4b05-b35b-33214be0c899" url="https://x.com/Argentina/status/2105494359454154811" social-type="twitter" /][p]The late effort wrapped up a fourth consecutive head-to-head win without conceding, while condemning [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bolivia/nXdi7mbc/"]Bolivia[/a] to a fifth straight defeat, a worrying run they will attempt to end in their next outing against Gambia.[/p][p]Now, just one game separates the Albiceleste from what promises to be an emotional evening when Messi bows out after a glittering international career.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paz-martinez-nicolas/GG6EYRT0/"]Nico Paz[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/bolivia-nXdi7mbc/?mid=r39xUtQa"]Check out all the match stats here.[/a][/b][/p]