Higuaín hits hat-trick as Argentina thrash Chile
Gonzalo Higuaín scored a hat-trick, while Lionel Messi scored his first goal in a competitive match for Argentina in two and a half years as the hosts crushed Chile 4-1 in their opening 2014 World Cup qualifier on Friday.
Higuaín put Argentina ahead from Angel Di María's pass in a counter-attack after seven minutes at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires and Messi, whose last goal in a competitive match was against Venezuela in March 2009, netted the second in the 25th.
Striker Higuain chipped in a Di María cross from the left seven minutes into the second half and completed his hat-trick when Messi capitalised on a faulty clearance by keeper Claudio Bravo and found him with a low pass.
Chile pulled a goal back through Matias Fernández on the hour.
Sabella's team will now face Venezuela on Tuesday for the second match of the qualifiers.
Line-up:Argentina: Mariano Andújar; Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolás Burdisso, Nicolás Otamendi and Marcos Rojo; José Sosa, Ever Banega, Rodrigo Braña and Angel Di María; Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuaín. Coach: Alejandro Sabella.
Chile: Claudio Bravo; Waldo Ponce, Arturo Vidal and Gonzalo Jara; Mauricio Isla, Carlos Carmona, Jorge Valdivia or Francisco Silva and Jean Beausejour; Matías Fernández; Mauricio Pinilla and Humberto Suazo. Coach: Claudio Borghi.
Referee: Wilmar Roldán Pérez (Colombia).
Stadium: River Plate.
COMMENTS >
