Match Report
The table gap was wide: 17 points between Argentina (2nd, 18 pts) and Nicaragua (42nd, 1 pts). Nicaragua ranked just 112th in the league on five-round form despite their 42nd table position. Scoring rates set the scale: Argentina 2.44 scored and 1 conceded per game, Nicaragua 0 and 0.5, with the league averaging 1.26.
Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario staged the fixture, a ground that holds 25,000. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Argentina led 2-0 at the break, before 4 more goals closed it at 5-1.
Goal scorers
Argentina: Lionel Messi (38'), Lionel Messi (37'), Lautaro Martínez (63'), Lautaro Martínez (73'), Roberto Pereyra (81') · Nicaragua: J. Barrera (90')
Key stats
Possession: Argentina 67% · Nicaragua 33% · Total shots: 17-4 · On target: 9-1 · Corners: 9-2