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Argentina player ratings vs Indonesia: Lionel Messi-less Argentina wasteful in laboured friendly win

An Argentina team missing Lionel Messi laboured to a 2-0 friendly victory over Indonesia on Monday.The world champions stroked the ball around without much resistance from the off, but were blunt in front of goal. However, La Albiceleste would enter the interval 1-0 up thanks to a long-range stunner from Leandro Paredes.

Indonesia, currently 149th in the FIFA world rankings, did not go down without a fight, though. On the stroke of half-time, Emiliano Martinez was called into a reaction stop to prevent Ivar Jenner grabbing an equaliser from close range, while Elkan Baggott's looping header drew an even better save from the goalkeeper.

Argentina reasserted control in the 55th minute, when Cristian Romero rose high to nod home Giovani Lo Celso's whipped corner. They saw the game out fairly comfortably from there, with Pratama Arhan's long throws only sporadically giving them something to think about.

GOAL rates Argentina's players from the showpiece friendly at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta...

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