Angel Di Maria, Alexis Mac Allister, and Lautaro Martinez saved Argentina on Tuesday by coming from behind to defeat Costa Rica 3-1 in an international friendly in Los Angeles.
The world champions, without injured captain Lionel Messi, ended their two-match tour of the United States with a well-deserved win at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Lionel Scaloni’s team, which beat El Salvador 3-0 in Philadelphia on Friday, controlled the first half and created several good chances.
However, Costa Rica scored first in 34 minutes after a quick counterattack.
Alvaro Zamora received a pass from Manfred Ugalde and shot low, but Argentina goalkeeper Walter Benitez blocked it.
Ugalde scored the first goal after Benitez’s save landed in his path, making it 1-0.
Argentina equalized early in the second half with a fantastic goal from Di Maria at 52 minutes.
The 36-year-old Benfica winger scored a brilliant free-kick from outside the area, beating Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas to make it 1-1.
Argentina took the lead 2-1 four minutes later from a set-piece.
Nicolas Tagliafico hit the bar with a header after a corner, and Mac Allister scored from the rebound to make it 2-1.
Martinez secured the win in the 77th minute, receiving a great pass from Rodrigo De Paul and scoring a delicate finish over Navas.
