Game is over and the final score is Argentina 3-0 Honduras. Here is the match report.
Match Events
1' KICK-OFF! Who can win this match?
8' De Paul's long shot wide out
15' GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Honduras (Lautaro)
21' Messi's shot saved by Lopez
39' Yellow Card! D. Flores booked
45' Penalty Goal! Argentina 2-0 Honduras (Messi)
55' Messi's shot over the bar
59' Lopez denied Alvarez's shot
68' GOAL! Argentina 3-0 Honduras (Messi)
84' Messi's shot over the bar
Match Report
The World Cup can't get here soon enough for Argentina and Lionel Messi, who registered their latest sensational performance in a 3-0 win over Honduras in front of an adoring partisan crowd at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Argentina captain Messi put on a show for the fans, playing all 90 minutes and having a hand in all three goals. Messi's seeing pass to Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez led to the opening tally by Lautaro Martinez. And then Messi scored a penalty and executed a sublime chip over the Honduras goalkeeper for Argentina's third.
It was a comprehensive victory from start to finish, as Argentina extended their unbeaten streak to 34 matches and counting since a 2019 Copa America semifinal loss to Brazil. Their next match will come against Jamaica on Tuesday at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.
Argentina showed why they are a legitimate threat to win it all in Qatar. Messi, Lautaro, and Papu Gomez showed fine chemistry in the first half. And the Albiceleste ended the match with Messi, Manchester City's Julian Alvarez, and Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa at forward, chasing hard for more goals to end the match.
The two-time World Cup champions were patient and knocked the ball around until they found their opening. They let the game come to them, playing with a confidence and assuredness that should have the other teams in World Cup Group C — Poland, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia — concerned about their head-to-head matchup against the South American side beginning on November 22.
Line-ups
Argentina XI: Messi, Gomez, Tagliafico, G. Rulli, Paredes, Pezzella, De Paul, Lo Celso, Lautaro, N. Molina, Martinez
Subs: Di Maria, F. Armani, E. Martinez, Correa, G. Rodriguez, G. Montiel, Mac Allister, F. Medina, N. Perez, T. Almada, J. Álvarez, E. Fernández
Honduras XI: R. Quioto, A. Najar, O. Elvir, L. Lopez, R. Santos, H. Castellanos, D. Flores, D. Maldonado, R. Rivas, C. Meléndez, K. Arriaga
Subs: B. Róchez, C. Zúniga, J. Benavidez, E. Menjivar, G. Mejia, M. Nuñez, L. Palma, J. Rosales, E. Solano, F. Flores, G. Montes, Carlos Mejía