Argentina vs Portugal Match Report

Argentina 0-1 Portugal - Match Report

Line Ups:

Argentina XI vs Portugal: Guzmán - Roncaglia, Otamendi, Demichelis, Ansaldi - Biglia, Mascherano, Pastore - Messi, Higuaín, Di Maria

Portugal XI vs Argentina: Beto - Bosingwa, Alves, Pepe, T. Gomes - Tiago, André Gomes, Moutinho - Nani, Danny, Cristiano

Overview:

20 year old Raphael Guerreiro steals the show as he scores the winner at Old Trafford for the Portuguese. Portugal who are on a good run of their own as they rounded up this year's international with three consecutive 1-0 wins. Argentina on the other hand came off of a win against Croatia last fortnight.

The game was labelled as a friendly but it was always more than it. Two of the best players set stage on the pitches of Old Trafford as former Manchester United - Cristiano Ronaldo being cheered at every touch of the ball. While the Argentinian ace Leo Messi being booed, which he didn't care much. As both the players captained their side.

With another former United man on show, Luis Nani who has been loaned to Portuguese team Sporting Lisbon for the season returned to Old Trafford as the fans cheered for him as well.

Messi came closest to scoring as he struck the base of the post with a decent striker with in the quarter hour of the game as Argentina were the more threatening of the two sides. The South American side more intent as Pastore and Di Maria combined well with Barcelona man Mascherano holding the fort.

Ronaldo was as useless as any, as he took just one shot in the whole of first half and was replaced at half time. Portugal handed an international debut to Tiago Gomes as Fernando Santos made four changes from their victory over Armenia.

With Portugal taking Ronaldo off the Argentinians decided to take Messi off as the fans in the stands who had paid 40 odd quids to see the geniuses felt cheated. None the less the game resumed with Leo Messi's and Cristiano's replacements on the field.

Di Maria the new star at Old Trafford took the stage with the two of the star men withdrawn as he hit a thumping drive from outside the area that was comfortably held by Beto.

Argentina just couldn't find the net past Beto as they struggled to finish and create chances in the final third. It was Portugal who ultimately scored as the 20 year old Guerreiro scored the winner deep into the stoppage time as Portugal won their third game on the trot.