Argentina in seventh heaven after thumping friendly victory over Burkina Faso

[p]Meeting for the first time, both sides came into this encounter on the back of a win and a clean sheet. However, with 60 places separating them in the FIFA rankings, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] were the overwhelming favourites.[/p][p]After a blistering start for the hosts, it took just four minutes for La Albiceleste to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moumouni-diallo/fTtnxBkD/"]Moumouni Diallo[/a] was shown a yellow card for bringing down [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/giay-agustin/2HYYrrQS/"]Agustin Giay[/a] in the box.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-lautaro/QHk1CXUh/"]Lautaro Martinez[/a] had his initial effort saved by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guira-abdoul-razack/n7iDSN4F/"]Abdoul Guira[/a], who dived to his bottom-left, but Martinez made no mistake with the follow-up.[/b][/p][image alt="Lautaro Martinez celebrates his goal" id="c67af20d-fe36-4615-960c-49a9774fe823" credit-line="Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos / Alamy / Profimedia" guid="12d180d4-dcaa-499c-8b79-eac14a231099" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p][b]Diallo’s night was about to get even worse just four minutes later, when, after trying to block a shot, he deflected the ball into his own net to make it 2-0 to the hosts. [/b][/p][p][b]Even with just eight minutes gone, the contest looked as good as over, and it was to be 3-0 just moments later when Martinez teed up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prestianni-gianluca/C2bbqoRj/"]Gianluca Prestianni[/a] to fire into the bottom-left corner from the centre of the box.[/b][/p][p]Amir Abdou’s side were in shock, and they desperately needed to shore up their defence to avoid a hammering, but averaging over 75% possession, Argentina were in supreme control and looking for a fourth.[/p][p][b]Despite a respite of 20 minutes, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/burkina-faso/bJOXzWga/"]Burkina Faso[/a] were to go 5-0 down after conceding two goals in a disastrous few minutes. Firstly, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paz-martinez-nicolas/GG6EYRT0/"]Nico Paz[/a] slotted in low from the right side of the six-yard box to make it 4-0, and then following good work by Prestianni, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-julian/bBHauDIC/"]Julian Alvarez[/a] fired in a superb fifth.[/b][/p][image alt="Julian Alvarez celebrates his goal" id="4301553e-d212-4299-9bda-51fb4144e5be" credit-line="Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos / Alamy / Profimedia" guid="e8856414-08e4-4d28-a443-48d82b9aeb6a" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]The visitors were reeling, but despite some close shaves, they managed to prevent conceding any further goals before half-time.[/p][p]Both sides made a flurry of changes after the restart, with Lionel Scaloni choosing to rest key players, whilst Abdou looked to add some fresh legs to his demoralised side.[/p][p]However, following a well-worked team goal in the 57th minute, Argentina were to compound matters for the visitors.[/p][p][b]After a series of flowing passes, Martinez found [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mastantuono-franco/tpBPaidM/"]Franco Mastantuono[/a] in space, who ran on to fire in a sixth and mercilessly continued the hammering of the visitors with more than 30 minutes remaining.[/b][/p][image alt="Match stats" id="d80d0bf1-49ff-4dfa-8158-a8ed76e4415c" credit-line="Flashscore" hidden-attrs="alt, credit" guid="bcb92ef3-1913-432b-a8f2-dd7a00bc9142" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]With both managers making further changes following the goal, the match lowered in tempo, and with La Albiceleste happy to keep the ball, the final 20 minutes were played out relatively comfortably.[/p][p][b]However, there was time for a seventh goal in stoppage time when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simeone-giuliano/IJTJu41i/"]Giuliano Simeone[/a] headed home from close range to compile further misery on the stunned visitors. [/b][/p][p]The result means Argentina have now scored 11 goals from their last two matches, whilst Burkina Faso have failed to score in six of their last seven defeats.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-lautaro/QHk1CXUh/"]Lautaro Martinez[/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/burkina-faso-bJOXzWga/?mid=GG7pSKfC"]See all the stats from the match here[/a][/b][/p]