Argentina continued their post-World Cup celebrations with a runaway 7-0 pleasant win over Curacao Tuesday on one other memorable night time for talisman Lionel Messi.
Messi placed on a clinic within the first half, scoring a hat trick to surpass the 100 targets mark for Argentina, with Nicolas Gonzalez and Enzo Fernandez each netting earlier than the break because the rout was effectively and actually on in Santiago del Estero.
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It was the second match in a row through which Messi surpassed a big milestone in his illustrious profession after hitting the 800-goal mark for membership and nation in a 2-0 win in opposition to Panama on Thursday.
An overmatched Curacao put up a combat for the primary 20 minutes, however as soon as Messi scored his first the floodgates opened and Gonzalez headed in Argentina’s second from shut vary after a scramble in entrance of Eloy Room‘s aim.
The Paris Saint-Germain star quickly scored his second and Argentina’s third with a trademark, bending shot from his left foot earlier than organising teammate Fernandez for a thunderous strike from distance to make it 4-0.
Minutes later, Messi was at it once more, working on to a wonderfully weighted ball excessive of the Curacao defence from Giovani Lo Celso and rolling his shot previous a helpless Room to finish a first-half hat trick.
The hosts appeared content material to see out the match at a canter within the second half, however Argentina did add to the scoreline within the 78th minute with an Angel Di Maria penalty and a close-range strike from Gonzalo Montiel.
The sport was adopted by tributes from the house crowd for Lionel Scaloni and his 2022 World Cup winners, who will regroup in June for an additional worldwide break with an eye fixed on the beginning of CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in September.
