Mac Allister and Lautaro each score twice in dominant display

[OSEN=Jeong Seung-woo Reporter] Lionel Messi, 38 years old, Inter Miami, led Argentina to a decisive victory with two assists.

Argentina secured a 6-0 triumph in a friendly A-match against Puerto Rico held at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, on the 15th (Korean time).

Following their previous 1-0 win against Venezuela, Argentina extended their winning streak to two games, steadily preparing for a second consecutive World Cup title.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni fielded key players including Rodrigo De Paul, Giovanni Lo Celso, Alexis Mac Allister, and Lionel Messi from the start. The World Cup champions' dominance was evident from the opening whistle.

In the 14th minute of the first half, Nicolás González's cross was perfectly headed in by Alexis Mac Allister to open the scoring. Nine minutes later, Messi, after a link-up with De Paul and Lo Celso, delivered a lobbed pass into the box, which Gonzalo Montiel finished with a powerful volley to make it 2-0.

In the 36th minute, José López, making his debut, provided another opportunity for Mac Allister with a clever heel pass, and Mac Allister completed his brace with a precise shot. Argentina led 3-0 at halftime.

The one-sided dominance continued in the second half. In the 19th minute, a own goal by Puerto Rico defender Steven Echevarría extended the lead to 4-0. Substitute Lautaro Martínez then made a significant impact.

Lautaro scored the fifth goal in the 34th minute of the second half, calmly chipping the ball into the net after González was fouled in the box following a Messi transition pass. Five minutes later, he added the sixth, cutting inside a defender to slot home a low shot after another Messi assist. Two goals in five minutes saw the score reach 6-0.

Although Messi did not score, his two assists proved he remains central to the attack. Mac Allister scored a brace, while Lautaro, coming off the bench, also netted twice, showcasing a well-rounded attacking performance.

This result extended Argentina's unbeaten run in recent A-matches to 12 games (10 wins, 2 draws), continuing to demonstrate their status as 'world champions'. In contrast, Puerto Rico managed only four shots, with an expected goals (xG) of 0.19, failing to register a single shot on target. /reccos23@osen.co.kr

Messi's Two Assists Power Argentina to 6-0 Victory Over Puerto Rico