Argentina came from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 in a friendly at West Ham’s Upton Park on Wednesday. Second-half goals from Cristian Ansaldi and Lionel Messi canceled out Anas Sharbini’s early opener to give Tata Martino’s side a deserved victory.
Argentina vs. Croatia: Final score 2-1, Albiceleste come from behind to win
Argentina netted twice in the second half at Upton Park to seal a 2-1 win over Croatia.
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However, they were certainly given an early scare, and it took just 11 minutes for Croatia to slice through and break the deadlock, courtesy of some fine work by Inter Milan’s wonderkid midfielder Mateo Kovačić. He surged forward and found a teammate in space on the edge of the box. Despite a tight angle, Sharbini made no mistake, stroking the ball perfectly inside Sergio Romero’s far post.
Argentina's initial reaction was timid, and they looked almost completely impotent in attack. They only caused Croatia's young debutant goalkeeper Lovre Kalinić one real problem in the game's first quarter, with the Hajduk Split man needing two attempts to gather Angel Di María's vicious, dipping effort.
However, as the half wore on, the Albiceleste began to crank up the pressure. Sergio Agüero fired wide after a Lionel Messi reverse pass sent him through on goal 27 minutes in, shortly before Messi himself lashed wide from inside the area after a nice one-two with defender Ansaldi. Croatia held their lead to the break, but only just.
Argentina continued in the ascendency into the second half, and, unsurprisingly, it wasn’t long before they were back on level terms. Less than five minutes had passed since the restart when Ansaldi lashed the ball goalwards from the edge of the penalty area, and his effort sailed into the back of the net via a massive deflection off Agüero.
Agüero was involved again when Argentina took the lead less than 10 minutes later. He was too quick for goalkeeper Kalinić, who clumsily brought the Manchester City striker down in the penalty area. The referee awarded the Albiceleste a spot-kick, and Messi made no mistake in dispatching the ball for 2-1.
After taking the lead, Argentina had the game pretty comfortably under control. Substitute Carlos Tevez should have killed the game off with 20 minutes remaining, though fired wide after being slipped through on goal. A few minutes later Javier Mascherano let fly with a swerving effort from distance, though Kalinić turned it around the post, and Argentina had to settle for just a 2-1 win.
Argentina: Romero; Ansaldi (Silva 76’), Fazio, Vergini, Zabaleta; Banega (Pereyra 71’), Mascherano, Pérez; Di María (Lamela 76’), Agüero (Tevez 62’), Messi.
Goals: Ansaldi (49’) Messi (pen. 57’).
Croatia: Kalinić (Vargić 89’); Vrsaljko, Jedvaj, Lešković (Mitrović 84’), Leovac; Sharbini (Jajalo 65’), Badelj, Kovačić (Halilović 46’); Antolić, Čop (Rog 84’), Milić (Tomečak 71’).
Goals: Sharbini (11’).
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