Argentina handed Spain its first loss since winning the World Cup two months ago, earning a dominant 4-1 win yesterday.

Argentina took a comfortable lead with first-half goals from Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez and was assisted by shaky goalkeeping from Spanish backup keeper Jose Reina.

Reina was beaten by Messi's lob in the 10th minute and Higuain's shot from a sharp angle in the 13th. The Liverpool keeper then slipped in the 34th when trying to clear a ball, which fell to Tevez who scrambled it home.

Fernando Llorente scored in the 84th for Spain and Sergio Aguero made it 4-1 for Argentina seconds into injury time.

It was the second victory for interim coach Sergio Batista, who took over after the Argentine federation declined to renew Diego Maradona's contract following a 4-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup quarterfinal. Argentina defeated Ireland last month 1-0.

Argentine federation president Julio Grondona has said Batista - a member of the 1986 World Cup winning team with Maradona - is the favorite to get the job permanently.

"Argentina was the reason that Spain was not the Spain we are used to seeing," Batista said. "We beat a great team and things went like we had hoped."

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque gave Argentina all the credit.

"It did not surprise me that Argentina was better than us, particularly in the first half," Del Bosque said. "We lost with dignity and we are not looking for excuses to devalue Argentina's victory."

Spain started about half the players who opened against the Netherlands in the World Cup final, with other starters like Xavi Hernandez coming on in the second half. No. 1 keeper Iker Casillas did not play.

Spain drew 1-1 last month with Mexico in its first game after the World Cup, and defeated Liechtenstein 4-0 on Friday in a European championship qualifier.

Yesterday's score was a bit more lopsided than it should have been before a 55,000 sellout - and under a light rain - at River Plate's Monumental stadium.

David Villa had Spain's two best chances in the first half, hitting the woodwork each time. In the 28th he pounded a long shot that bounced off the crossbar just over the outstretched hand or Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

Villa also hit the post late in the first half on a free kick that went off the back of Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano. Spain also hit the woodwork again in the second half.

Villa has 44 goals for Spain to share the team record with Raul Gonzalez. Gonzalez needed 102 games to reach the total and Villa did it in 66, scoring last week against Liechtenstein.

Llorente finally broke through in the 84th, taking a pass in the box from Pedro and scoring from 10 meters (yards) behind Romero. Aguero answered second into stoppage time, scoring on a header that bounced in from a centering pass from Gabriel Heinze.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments