Argentina defeat El Salvador without Lionel Messi

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:19 am
Federico Mancuello scored from a tight angle and Argentina controlled El Salvador on Saturday.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images

WASHINGTON -- Ever Banega scored on a deflected shot, Federico Mancuello added a late goal and Argentina beat El Salvador 2-0 in a friendly on Saturday.

Argentina played a lacklustre game without star Lionel Messi, who stayed on the bench with a right foot bruise. The Barcelona star took a knock last Sunday in the clasico against Real Madrid and missed several training sessions this week with the national team.

Messi had tests done on Tuesday, which revealed no serious injury.

Banega scored with a 54th-minute shot that deflected off defender Nestor Renderos and beat goalkeeper Derby Carrillo.

Mancuello sealed the win with a free kick from a tight angle in the 88th minute.

Argentina manager Gerardo Martino started Carlos Tevez for the first time since taking over the team last year, but the Juventus forward was ineffective in attack with Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria.

Argentina face Ecuador on Tuesday in the Meadowlands, in their last warm-up match before Copa America in June.