
Audio By Carbonatix
Argentina brushed aside Bolivia 3-0 to finish as Copa America Group D winners.
Erik Lamela, Ezequiel Lavezzi and defender Victor Cuesta were all on target in the first half before the second became a training exercise for the Albiceleste.
Argentina's 10 goals in the group stage equalled the record for the competition, in its centenary edition, and they will face surprise package Venezuela in their quarter-final in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Argentina were on the front foot from the outset and took the lead in the 13th minute when Edward Zenteno crudely brought down Lavezzi and Lamela's free-kick went in via a deflection off Yasmani Duk in the wall.
And almost immediately it was 2-0 when, from Facundo Roncaglia's cross, Gonzalo Higuain's header was only parried and Lavezzi pounced right-footed.
Duk was forced off with a bizarre injury when team-mate Luis Gutierrez robustly blocked Roncaglia and he clashed heads with the Bolivia frontman, who was replaced by Diego Bejarano.
Half an hour elapsed before the crowd began chanting for Lionel Messi, who was left on the bench, though they broke off to cheer a third goal when Bolivia failed to clear a set-piece and Lavezzi's cross-shot was diverted in by Cuesta for his first international goal.
Bolivia keeper Carlos Lampe saved from Higuain in first-half stoppage time.
Messi was introduced at the break but Bolivia's Jhasmany Campos tried to steal his thunder by going for goal directly from the kick-off, his side's first attempt.
Messi whipped a free-kick just wide, nutmegged Lampe having been flagged offside and then shot just over from long range with the keeper off his line, but the match had long since dissolved into an exhibition.
Argentina finished having had 82 per cent of possession, completing 757 passes to Bolivia's 61.
-
Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @JoySportsGH. Our hashtag is #JoySports
Latest Stories
-
UTAG-UCC rejects GTEC promotion harmonisation plan, cites threats to university autonomy
6 minutes -
GNFS battles major rubber factory fire at Circle as heavy rains hamper response
31 minutes -
GAF deploy troops to flood-hit communities in Accra under ‘Operation Boafo’
50 minutes -
Ghana School of Law postpones June 29 examinations due to Accra flooding and heavy rainfall
58 minutes -
Adopt NPA’s transparent pricing model to build public trust – CEMSE tells PURC
1 hour -
Work from home as flooding intensifies – Interior Minister urges Accra residents
1 hour -
US Embassy hosts Black Stars watch party in Tamale to strengthen community engagement
1 hour -
Kwame Nkrumah Circle floods leave hundreds of commuters stranded
2 hours -
NADMO announces toll-free line for flood and disaster emergencies
2 hours -
Flooding disrupts movement on Accra–Kumasi highway
2 hours -
Don’t force your way through floodwaters – NADMO warns
2 hours -
CHAG, government and partners chart new path for people-centred healthcare
2 hours -
Over-reliance on imported medicines threatens national security – Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana
2 hours -
Sylvester Tetteh meets Bawumia, seeks blessings for General Secretary bid
2 hours -
GMet warns of widespread thunderstorms across Southern Ghana
2 hours