Argentina edges Socceroos
11/09/2007 10:28 PM
as Graham Arnold pressed for an equaliser. But it was the visitors who looked more likely to score, with Messi denied a penalty appeal in the 59th minute.
Schwarzer was called on to charge out of his box and hack the ball to safety with two Argentine players bearing down on him. Up the other end, Carle almost put Kennedy through with a clever ball which was cut off by Abbondanzieri.
The Socceroos' endeavour to find an equaliser certainly couldn't be questioned, but each time they looked the break down the defence, the visitors had an answer. Nik Mrdja replaced Kennedy in the final ten minutes
A collision between Schwarzer and Messi produced some nervous moments for both teams late on, but both recovered, while Alfio Basile decided he would not risk Tevez any longer and removed him for Javier Saviola. Vince Grella then crashed into Javier Mascherano, causing some friction between the teams and the Aussie defensive midfielder was booked.
But the friendly nature of the match held until the end, with the better side getting the win, but with plenty of heartening signs for the Australians in Arnold's final game in charge.
Australia 0
Argentina 1 (Demichelis 49)
Crowd: 70,171