Goals from Nicolas Gonzalez and Lautaro Martinez helped Argentina beat Peru 2-0 in their 2022 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
After Lautaro had threatened the Peruvian goal, Gonzalez broke the deadlock on 16 minutes after receiving a Giovani Lo Celso pass as he slipped his marker and fired it home.
Martinez made it 2-0 to Argentina after 27 minutes. Rodrigo De Paul did superbly to send the Inter Milan striker through on goal, and the latter rounded goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and slipped it into the empty net.
Lionel Messi was heavily involved at the start of the second half. One exquisite pass was just cut out before it landed at Martinez's feet, before 'The Atomic Flea' produced a brilliant play and thought he'd won a penalty, only for the referee to wave away his protests. Messi's close-range strike was then blocked out for a corner.
mj/
