Lautaro Martinez netted a hat-trick in just 40 minutes as Argentina blitzed Mexico 4-0 win in a friendly in San Antonio on Tuesday.
The Internazionale striker took advantage of shocking defending to fire three angled shots past Mexicogoalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the 17th, 22nd and 39th minutes.
? Amistoso #SelecciónMayor
⚽ @Argentina ?? 4 (Lautaro Martínez x3 y Leandro Paredes) – #México ?? 0
? ¡Final del partido en el estadio @Alamodome! #VamosArgentina ? pic.twitter.com/iiYq1ICbeF
— Selección Argentina ?? (@Argentina) September 11, 2019
Leandro Paredes scored from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute. Argentina dropped the pace in the second period but still faced little resistance from an untidy Mexico side who did not manage a shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Eight players were shown yellow cards in a match that rarely lived up to its ‘friendly’ billing.
Lautaro Martinez scores a first-half hat trick and Argentina shut out Mexico for their 3rd straight meeting. pic.twitter.com/6az8n9KpCT
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 11, 2019
But the game will be remembered largely for the brilliant finishing that brought the 22-year-old Martinez his first international hat-trick. “I’m delighted and emotional,” he said. “One has to make a lot of sacrifices to get here and it’s not every day that you score three goals wearing this shirt.”
The result was Mexico’s heaviest defeat since they lost 7-0 to Chile in 2016. It was also the first loss for coach Gerardo Martino, who had guided them to 11 straight wins since taking over in January.
Argentina will take on Germany in a friendly next month, while Mexico meet Trinidad and Tobago before CONCACAF Nations League clashes with Bermuda and Panama.
⚽️ Gabriel Batistuta is the only man to hit a hat-trick in 2⃣ World Cups
?♂️ Lionel Messi netted a treble ? ??
? Lautaro Martinez has become the 1st player to score 3⃣ in an @Argentina-Mexico game since Guillermo Stabile in 1930 – & he did it in the 1st half at the Alamodome❕ pic.twitter.com/6cwNx429MV
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) September 11, 2019
Argentina starting 11:
Andrada,Martínez Quarta, Tagliafico, Rojo, Montiel, Paredes, Acuña, Mac Allister, De Paul, Palacios, Lautaro
Subs: Marchesin, Armani, Pereyra, Lanzini, Pezzella, Alario, Dybala, Correa, Figal, Rodriguez, Zaracho, Dominguez, Balerdi, Gaich
Mexico starting 11:
Ochoa, Gallardo, Araujo, Salcedo, Layún, Edson, Herrera, Jonathan, Lozano, Corona, Jiménez
Subs: Orozco, J. Sanchez, D. Reyes, Navarro, Moreno, Cota, H. Gonzalez L. Montes, A. Vega, Chicharito, U. Antuna, M. Fabian, C. Rodriguez, O. Pineda, R. Alvarado
Image courtesy: twitter.com/Argentina
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
