Argentina raid Paraguay!

Argentina raid Paraguay!

The Argentineans were on song yesterday as they decimated the Paraguayans in the Copa America semi finals.

Angel di Maria scored twice and Marcos Rojo, Javier Pastore, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain also found the net in a brilliant display orchestrated by an inspired by Leo Messi.

The Blue and Whites took lead after 15 minutes when Messi swung a free kick in from the left, Rojo failed to connect cleanly with his first touch but swept the ball home from close range with his second.

Argentina doubled their lead 12 minutes later and again Messi was the provider, threading an inch-perfect pass through the Paraguayan defence for Pastore to run on to. His powerful low shot gave goalkeeper Justo Villar no chance.

Things went from bad to worse for Paraguay when both their strikers, Derliz Gonzalez and Roque Santa Cruz, limped off injured. Santa Cruz's replacement, Lucas Barrios, gave them hope with a goal just before the break but in the second half Argentina were unstoppable.

Minutes into the second half Pastore burst through midfield and fed Di Maria, who buried a left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net. Six minutes later Messi destroyed the Paraguayan defence with a mazy run to set up Pastore. His shot was parried by Villar but Di Maria was on hand to slot home the rebound.

On 80 minutes Di Maria turned provider, crossing from the left for Aguero to head home, and minutes later Higuain came off the bench to score a sixth.

MATCH FACTS

Argentina (4-3-3): Romero 5, Zabaleta 6.5, Demichelis 6, Otamendi 6.5, Rojo 7, Pastore 9 (Banega 73, 6.5), Mascherano 6.5 (Gago, 77, 6.5), Biglia 6.5, Messi 9.5, Aguero 7.5 (Higuain 81), Di Maria 8.5.

Subs not used: Roncaglia, Pereyra, Guzman, Casco, Tevez, Lamela, Lavezzi, Marchesin

Goals: Rojo 15, Pastore 27, Di Maria 47, 53, Aguero 80, Higuain 83

Booked: Rojo, Biglia

Paraguay (4-4-2): Villar 6.5, Valdez 6 (Romero 56, 4.5), P Aguilar 4, Da Silva 4, Piris 5.5, Gonzalez 6.5 (Bobadilla 27, 4.5), V Caceres 6, Ortiz 5.5, Benitez 6, Haedo 5.5, Santa Cruz 4 (Barrios 30, 6.5).

Subs not used: Caceres, Samudio, Silva, Molinas, Martinez, Balbuena, Ortigoza, O Aranda, A Aguilar

Goal: Barrios 43

Booked: V Caceres, Da Silva, Ortiz