The Hindu : Sport / Football : Argentina turns on the style against Ecuador

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Friday, Jul 09, 2004

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Argentina turns on the style against Ecuador

CHICLAYO (PERU), JULY 8. Javier Saviola notched up a hat-trick as Argentina crushed Ecuador 6-1 while Mexico blew a 2-1 lead and man advantage to concede a 2-2 draw to Uruguay in the Copa America on Wednesday.

Argentina's biggest output in nine years lifted it to the top of Group `B' in a successful first appearance at the Copa since 1999. It missed the 2001 event in Colombia because of security concerns.

Saviola led a second-half goal fest, rescuing Argentina from a 1-1 deadlock and finding the back of the net in the 64th, 74th, and 79th minutes.

Cristian Gonzalez, Andres D'Alessandro, and Luis Gonzalez also scored in Argentina's most lopsided win against Ecuador in 44 years.

Agustin Delgado scored the lone goal for Ecuador, which included many starters from its 2002 World Cup squad.

Cristian Gonzalez made it 1-0 in the fifth minute on a penalty. Referee Carlos Amarilla awarded the spot kick after Ecuador defender Giovanny Espinoza shoved Luis Gonzalez off the ball in the penalty area as he turned to receive a pass.

Gonzalez converted as goalkeeper Giovanny Ibarra dove to his right, sending his shot in the opposite direction.

Argentina played its tournament opener only hours after learning it had fallen out of FIFA's top 10 rankings for the first time since 1998, slipping six places to 11th.

Ecuador rarely threatened in the first half, but after the break Delgado came off the bench and equalised in the 61st minute, shooting a blistering shot between three Argentine defenders.

Saviola responded three minutes later, outmanoeuvring four defenders and shooting as he leaned to his left. Ten minutes later, Saviola leapt and beat Ibarra with a header that set off a goal fiesta — Argentina scored four in the final 30 minutes.

Earlier, former Uruguay captain Paolo Montero headed in an 88th-minute corner in his first international in two years to help his 10-man team draw 2-2 with Mexico.

Montero retired from international duty after leading Uruguay at the 2002 World Cup, but justified his recall by new coach Jorge Fossati with his equaliser.

The presence of the Juventus defender helped unfancied Uruguay surprise favoured Mexico by scoring first and last, after replacement Richard Morales was sent off in the 81st for a late tackle on Pavel Pardo, who scored Mexico's second goal with a 25-metre blast. Uruguay had allowed 11 goals in its last three World Cup qualifiers, but rose to the occasion at Elias Aguirre Stadium.

Mexico has retained the veteran core which led it to the last two World Cups and 2001 Copa final with the stated intention of finally winning the Copa America, but the two-time runner-up appeared leg-weary towards the end.

Uruguay showed no serious ambition on attack, which made its opening goal in the 42nd minute a minor shock. A centre pass to the edge of the penalty box was headed on by Marcelo Sosa, and leftie Carlos Bueno spun and fired off his hip into the back of the net.

But a minute into injury time, Mexico equalised out of nowhere, as Ricardo Osorio, unmarked on the right sideline, arced a high shot over goalkeeper Luis Barbat and in beside the far post.

Pardo's score in the 69th, which paralysed Barbat, appeared to set up Mexico for a deserved victory, especially after Morales was ejected, but Uruguay was not done with surprises. ``We could have won the game, we had it, but the expulsion complicated everything,'' Fossati said. — AP

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