A long-range shot from Leandro Paredes and a header from Cristian Romero in the second half, saw Argentina win a 2-0 victory in a friendly match against Indonesia in Jakarta on Monday.
Argentina has made two wins from two matches on their tour of Asia.
Argentia dominated the match despite the overwhelming support the crowd of Indonesian fans gave their team, each time they ventured into the visitor’s side.
Argentina had the best of the early action, with Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Gonzalez both denied and Facundo Buonanotte blowing a chance after skipping around the advancing keeper.
They had their first goal in the 38th minute when Paredes found a space and doubled the score 10 minutes after the half time when Romero, unmarked, headed in a corner from Giovani Lo Celso.
Alejandro Garnacho, one of six second-half substitutions, almost scored a third goal in stoppage time.
Indonesia defended as much as they could and had a few chances in the second half, testing keeper Emi Martinez with a succession of long throws into a crowded box.
Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and new Inter Miami signing, pulled out of the game after weeks of hype in Indonesia but that didn’t stop a raucous crowd in the Gelora Bung Karno stadium.
Lionel Messi broke another record in his career during Argentia’s friendly win against Australia, when he scored 79 seconds into the game – his fastest international goal.
Despite his absence, his fans in the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium still chanted “Messi” as the team walked onto the pitch.
The match was a sign of relief in a torrid eight months for football in Indonesia, during which 135 fans were killed in one of the world’s worst stadium stampedes.
The Muslim-majority country was stripped of its right to stage the under-20 World Cup in March over domestic resistance to Israel’s participation, and replaced as hosts by Argentina.
Indonesia’s South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong said the match was a confidence boost ahead of next year’s Asian Cup, while the country’s president, Joko Widodo, feared the worst and was relieved by the outcome.
“Argentina are ranked first and we’re 149th, but we only conceded two goals,” he said. “This is a big experience for us.”
