More than one was surprised when Lionel Scaloni gave the official formation for the friendly between Argentina and Jamaica in New Jersey y Lionel Messi did not figure in the lineup. After several talks with the coaching staff, it was decided that the best thing was for the Albiceleste captain not to be in the game to avoid an overload and have minutes in the complement. The audience then went from disappointment to expectation.
In the stadium Red Bull Arena, the South American cast showed a good performance during the first half, although they lacked goals to satisfy those present. And before the partial drought, the fans began to chant the surname of the idol that transcends borders: “Meeessi, Meeessi”.
Scaloni announced to Rosario that 10 minutes into the complement he was going to enter alongside Enzo Fernández. And since the final stage began, the fans exploded with excitement when they saw that he was ready to warm up. And what to say when the DT albiceleste He called him and the former River midfielder to replace Lautaro Martínez and Guido Rodríguez, respectively.
Ten minutes had not elapsed since the entrance of Leo to the game when an intruder evaded security and entered the field of play in search of a souvenir with him. He came within a few meters of the midfield position where Lionel was standing, but did not make contact as a guard tackled him head-on and was helped by others who immediately came to stop him and escort him off the court. .
The duel had reached a plateau until Messi brought out his entire repertoire. He had two options to stretch the advantage: one with a left foot from a very close angle that died in the hands of the goalkeeper and another with a shot from the door of the large area that came out weak and low. It seemed that the story ended with the minimum in favor of Argentina, although on the 10th he had other plans…
At minute 86, lethal cannon shot from the crescent of the large area to leave Andre Blake without options. And as if that had not been enough, immediately (89 ‘) he generated an infraction in the same sector to take charge of a free kick that went once morest the post defended by the Jamaican goalkeeper, who was covered and due to the speed of the shot, he didn’t have much to do.
The private security officers had shown total vehemence with the first intruder of the night. Not even this way they might dissuade two other Messi fans who crossed the billboards in their search. The second, just following 2-0, he even gave him a fibrón to sign his back. The third was intercepted in the middle of the action (unusually stopped when Messi almost converted the third goal of his personal account).
Lionel Messi took 35 minutes to convert a double and leave everyone satisfied in New Jersey. One more game to excite all Argentines. One day less on the calendar for the start of the World Cup that he has dreamed of for four years.
KEEP READING: