ELCHE: Argentina produced one of their best performances in recent times on Sunday with six different scorers getting their name on the scoresheet in a comprehensive 6-1 friendly win over Ecuador in Spain despite the absence of suspended Lionel Messi and a number of other top stars.

Lucas Alario, Leandro Paredes, German Pezzella, Nicolas Dominguez and Lucas Ocampos scored for Argentina, which also got on the board with an own-goal by Ecuadorean defender Jhon Espinoza.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made six changes to the team that started Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Germany, but his side had Marcos Acuna in top form on the left flank and was particularly dominant in the first half.

Alario put them 1-0 ahead in 20 minutes with a powerful header from an Acuna corner, then seven minutes later Espinoza deflected a cross from Acuna past his own goalkeeper.

Paredes made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after Lautaro Martinez was brought down in front of goal.

There was a brief dispute before that goal. Martinez had the ball and wanted to take the penalty, but Paredes prevailed after a discussion between the two. Martinez left complaining but celebrated the goal along with his team-mates.

Substitute Angel Mena cut the deficit for Ecuador three minutes into the second half with a spectacular free kick but any hope of pulling back their rivals was short lived.

Pezzella made it 4-1 with a header in 66 minutes, Dominguez crashed home a fifth from long range a quarter of an hour later and then Ocampos finished off the scoring four minutes from time.

The match took place in Spain against the backdrop of violent unrest in Ecuador, with the country’s president Lenin Moreno ordering a curfew and military control in capital city Quito.

Six people have died and nearly 2,100 have been wounded or detained according to authorities after anti-austerity protests led by Ecuador’s indigenous population.

Messi was serving a three-month suspension from internationals because of comments he made against South American football body CONMEBOL during this year’s Copa Amrica in Brazil.

Argentina also were without players from Boca Juniors and River Plate because the teams are playing each other in the Copa Libertadores semifinal. Others missing from the squad were forwards Angel Di Mara and Sergio Aguero.

The result capped a positive few days for Argentina, who are now unbeaten in five games since losing the Copa America semi-final to Brazil in July.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2019