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Mac Allister and Martinez braces power Argentina over Puerto Rico / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
NYSE - LSE
Mac Allister and Martinez braces power Argentina over Puerto Rico
Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martinez each scored two goals and Argentina routed Puerto Rico 6-0 in an international football friendly on Tuesday.
Argentine legend Lionel Messi assisted on two goals and played the entire way in a match moved from Chicago to the home pitch of Messi's MLS Inter Miami squad.
Mac Allister, a standout midfielder for reigning English Premier League champion Liverpool, opened the scoring on a header in the 14th minute.
Messi set up the second goal for the Albiceleste with a through ball to Gonzalo Montiel, who fired in a shot to the bottom left corner in the 23rd minute.
Mac Allister scored again in the 36th minute for a 3-0 Argentina half-time lead.
Puerto Rico's Steven Echevarria scored an own goal in the 64th minute to give Argentina a 4-0 edge.
Martinez, who entered in the 63rd minute, scored in the 79th and 84th minutes -- the latter off a Messi assist -- to give the South Americans their final victory margin.
The match was moved over low ticket sales, according to organizers.
Argentina was coming off a 1-0 victory over Colombia last Friday, the same day Puerto Rico beat St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2-1.
L. Solowjow--BTZ
