The hosts went on the attack almost immediately from kick-off as Julian Alvarez’s fourth-minute free-kick forced Babacar Diop into a fine save. However, there was nothing to stop Argentina from breaking the deadlock after 17 minutes.
Criminally left unmarked as he strode into the box, Nahuel Molina’s delightful delivery into the danger zone was perfectly put on a plate for Enzo Fernandez to expertly sweep home his first-time effort.
One shortly became two shortly after the half-hour mark, as one of the most in-form players in world football, Nico Paz, curled a stunning free-kick past Diop from outside of the area.
However, it wasn’t all about Lionel Scaloni’s side throughout a one-sided first half, as Oumar Ngom’s ambitious effort in stoppage time called Emiliano Martínez into making a first, but, admittedly, comfortable, save of the match.
Already in control of the contest, Scaloni changed up his side at half-time, introducing no fewer than three substitutes, which included Rodrigo de Paul, Franco Mastantuono and of course Lionel Messi.
In spite of the hosts’ alternations, Mauritania had the first sight of goal after nine minutes of the second half, with Rangers’ man Djeidi Gassama miscuing his close-range effort wide of the intended target.
Against the run of play, the visitors were on the attack again in the 65th minute as Martinez only just managed to redirect Aboubakary Koita’s fierce strike over the bar with his fingertips.
Despite their plethora of star-studded players out on the pitch, Argentina inexplicably failed to register a shot on target throughout the second 45 minutes. Instead, Jordan Lefort pulled a goal back deep into stoppage time to earn Mauritania a place on the scoresheet.
Argentina will again grace the Bombonera turf when they face Zambia on Wednesday as they continue to prepare to defend their FIFA World Cup crown on June 17th.
Meanwhile, Mauritania won’t feature at this year’s international spectacle after only South Sudan finished below them in their qualification cycle, but the Lions of Chinguetti will surely have learnt a lot after producing a respectable display against FIFA’s third-highest ranked nation.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nico Paz (Argentina)
