Football: Lionel Messi scores two goals as Argentina defeats Nicaragua

Lionel Messi scored a brace in the first half as Argentina geared up for the Copa America with a complete 5-1 win over Nicaragua on Friday in San Juan.

The Central Americans, who will participate in this month's Gold Cup tournament while Argentina play Brazil, first frustrated the locals.

Captain Messi had to let his team go into action in his only warm-up match before the tournament, cleverly opening the score 37 minutes before attacking again 96 seconds later.

Lautaro Martinez, Inter Milan striker, also scored two goals, leaving the substitutes bench at halftime to give coach Lionel Scaloni a topic for thought before the match. Opening against Colombia on June 15.

Scaloni, recruited after Jorge Sampaoli's dismissal following a bad performance at the World Cup last summer, aims to form a younger team and end the wait for Argentina for 26 years.

Indeed, in the Scaloni Copa America team, only Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria remain from those who were beaten by Germany in the Rio World Cup final five years ago.

An on-song Messi is however necessary for South Americans to prosper over the next few weeks.

Messi lost three Copa finals – 2007, 2015 and 2016 – and the last time Argentina won an international title was in the same competition in 1993, when the tiny attacker was only six years old. They have reached four of the last five finals.

With Brazil missing Neymar, injured, for the centerpiece, which will start June 14, Argentina is one of the favorites.

At the start of the first meeting between Argentina and Nicaragua on Friday, the Scaloni team failed to inspire in front of a crowd of 25,000 sold-out spectators at the San Juan del Bicentenario stadium. San Juan in Argentina.

Aguero looked dangerous in the early stages and Messi should have done better in 12 minutes when he shot unusually off a distance.

Nicaragua, however, defended well while routinely stating its physical appearance – Messi was drawn twice in the first hour – to frustrate Argentina and its supporters.

A Matiase Suarez strike from River Plate was brought down by visiting goalkeeper Justo Lorente in the 26th minute, but the two-time world champion was forced to work hard to secure openings.

Nicaragua, ranked 129th in the world and playing its second consecutive Gold Cup, will be a tough test for Costa Rica, Haiti and Bermuda despite this fight. They have not won a match in two games yet – they have lost six with just one goal scored – but they will not fall without a fight.

Messi, however, represents a danger for all teams. His brilliant race and his arrival allowed the Barcelona star to beat three defenders before finishing clinically in front of Lorente. He caught his second shortly after, when Aguero's shot was parried.

Scaloni removed key men Messi and Aguero at half-time, allowing Martinez, 21, to impress with well-executed efforts in 63-72 minutes. Roberto Pereyra of Watford scored five minutes from time, while the consolation earned by Nicaragua was punished by Juan Barrera's penalty.

Argentina will face Colombia in Salvador before facing Paraguay and Qatar, champion of Asia, in Group B.

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