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Argentina come from behind to beat Costa Rica 3-1 without Messi: Highlights, goals

Argentina turned things around to beat Costa Rica 3-1 in a friendly in Los Angeles. Watch here the best moments and goals of this eventful game.

Argentine players pose for team picture vs Costa Rica.
© @ArgentinaArgentine players pose for team picture vs Costa Rica.

Argentina came back from a one-goal deficit to beat Costa Rica 3-1 in an international friendly at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. In Bolavip we brought you live coverage of the game minute by minute!

Find out here the goals and highlights of this exciting match.

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Argentina beat Costa Rica 3-1

That's it for tonight. Argentina concluded the March international break with another win and you lived every second with Bolavip. Thanks for staying with us and see you next time!

Full time in LA!

Argentina turned things around in Los Angeles to claim a 3-1 victory over Costa Rica in their second friendly of the year. Ugalde opened the scoring for the Ticos, but a great free-kick goal by Di Maria paved the way for La Albiceleste's comeback in the second half, with Mac Allister and Lautaro securing the win for the world champs.

89' - Substitutions in Costa Rica

Manfred Ugalde and Ariel Lassiter leave the field to make room for Anthony Contreras and Joseph Mora.

86' - Navas denies de Paul

The Atletico Madrid star made a great solo play but Navas saved his shot.

81' - Substitutions in Argentina and Costa Rica.

Argentina: Valentin Carboni comes on for Angel Di Maria, with German Pezzella replacing Nicolas Otamend and Nicolas Gonzalez taking over for Enzo Fernandez.

Costa Rica: Alvaro Zamora leaves the field for Elias Aguilar.

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Watch Lautaro's goal

The goal that gave Argentina a 3-1 lead in LA.

76' - Lautaro Martinez scores!

The Inter Milan made it 3-1 for Argentina, ending a 15-game drought with the national team. His last international goal had been before Qatar 2022 in a friendly against Honduras.

71' - Substitutions in Argentina

Lautaro Martinez comes on for Alejandro Garnacho, while Rodrigo de Paul replaces Giovani Lo Celso.

67' - Substitutions in Costa Rica

Brandon Aguilera and Josimar Alcocer leave the field for Jefferson Brenes and Warren Madrigal, respectively.

64' - Galo's shot goes wide

The Costa Rican midfielder made a long-range effort to try and equalize but it wasn't successful.

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60' - Argentina make first substitution

Leandro Paredes comes on for Mac Allister.

Watch Mac Allister's goal

The Liverpool star scored for the first time since the 2022 World Cup to put Argentina in front in LA.

Watch Di Maria's free-kick goal

Di Maria scored his first free-kick goal for the Argentine national team in great fashion.

56' - Argentina take the lead!

Mac Allister sends home a loose ball inside the box after Nicolas Tagliafico hit the crossbar. Argentina lead 2-1 now!

53' - Alvarez almost scores the second!

Argentina woke up, with Julian Alvarez nearly turning things around just seconds after Di Maria's equalizer.

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52' - Argentina equalize!

Di Maria scored a wonderful free-kick goal to make things level in LA! (1-1)

51' - Navas makes huge save!

Keylor Navas comes up gigantic to save an Enzo Fernandez effort with his left leg!

46' - Argentina start looking for the equalizer

Di Maria sent a cross aimed at Garnacho but it went off bounds.

Second half underway!

Costa Rica aim to hold on to their lead over the world champs.

Watch: Ugalde's goal

The goal that gave Costa Rica the edge in the first half.

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HALFTIME IN LA!

Costa Rica are surprisingly leading 1-0 at the break.

45' - Molina booked

The Argentine right-back is the first player of the game to see the yellow card after an ugly challenge on Zamora.

44' - Aguilera comes close!

Costa Rica dare to pressure without the ball and it almost paid off, as Aguilera's effort goes just wide next to the post.

42' - Fernandez misses!

Enzo Fernandez had an interesting opportunity to tie the match but his shot went wide.

40' - Costa Rica now taking control!

Alfaro's side looks more confident as it started to control possession while putting Argentina in an uncomfortable spot.

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38' - Costa Rica almost scored the second!

Francisco Calvo's header goes wide but it could have been worse for Argentina as a couple of opponents players were in a great spot inside the box.

37' - Costa Rica gain confidence

The goal seemed to give Los Ticos enough optimism to take more control of the ball and put Argentina close to their own goal!

34' - COSTA RICA SCORE!

In a shocking turn of events, Ugalde finishes off a great counter to give the Ticos the lead!

30' - Navas saves a free-kick

Di Maria tried long range but the veteran goalkeeper reacted perfectly to keep things level.

27' - Walter Benitez saves!

Los Ticos get their first serious chance from a corner kick but the Argentine keeper saves the header.

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22' - Navas again!

The Costa Rican keeper once again saves his side, this time blocking an Otamendi header!

20' - Navas denies Garnacho!

Keylor Navas made a great save as Alejandro Garnacho tried to find the net, with Cascante later denying the rebound. The game is still goalless in LA.

18' - Mac Allister tries long range

Alexis Mac Allister makes a long-range effort that goes wide.

15' - Argentina still looking for the opener

Costa Rica are holding La Albiceleste, who continue to look for ways to open the scoring.

10' - Di Maria pulling the strings

With Messi out, Di Maria is putting Argentina on his back as the world champs want to break the deadlock.

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7' - Argentina control the ball

Argentina have already started to dominate possession of the ball, with Costa Rica dropping back to see if they can produce danger with a counter attack.

4' - Free kick for Argentina

Costa Rica make their third foul in just four minutes, but an offside prevents Argentina from capitalizing on their free-kick.

3' - Di Maria makes the first effort

Angel Di Maria tested Keylor Navas, who responded well to the winger's shot.

Messi out due to injury

For those wondering why Messi is not on the field, the Inter Miami star picked up a hamstring injury before the international break and was ruled out for both Argentina friendlies.

Game on!

The game is underway in Los Angeles!

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Anthems!

The teams are already on the field for the national anthems before kick-off.

Argentina to debut kit

Argentina will play with a brand-new blue kit, their away jersey for the 2024 Copa América.

Warm up done!

Both sides have already returned to the locker room after warming up and will take the field soon.

Alexis Mac Allister during warm up.
Alexis Mac Allister during warm up.

Low attendance expected

According to Gaston Edul of Tyc Sports, only 15,000 tickets have been sold. So expect to see many empty seats at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tonight.

Fans show up in Los Angeles

Argentine fans are already putting on a show at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to cheer on the reigning world champions!

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Scaloni returns where it all started

Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni is back at the stadium where he made his debut as the Argentine national team manager. It was a 3-0 win over Guatemala in September 2018.

How Costa Rica arrive in this game

Los Ticos head into this game in high spirits, having punched a ticket to the 2024 Copa America by beating Honduras 3-1 last time out. Before that, they beat El Salvador 2-0 in a friendly in February.

Costa Rica's lineup confirmed

These are the 11 players chosen by Gustavo Alfaro to face Argentina: Keylor Navas, Quiroz, Faerron, Cascante, Calvo, Lassiter, Galo, Aguilera, Alcocer, Zamora, Ugalde.

Argentina's confirmed lineup

Argentina will take the field with the following starting eleven: Walter Benítez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Giovani Lo Celso; Ángel Di María, Alejandro Garnacho, Julián Álvarez.

Tonight's stage

The stage is set at the United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.

Opened in 1923, this historic venue has a 78,467 capacity and has already hosted high-profile sporting events such as the Super Bowl, Olympic Games (1932 and 1984), and Concacaf Gold Cup, among others.

It will also host athletic events at the 2028 Summer Olympics.

General view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
General view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
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Argentina vs Costa Rica: Head-to-head

This will be the seventh clash between these national teams, with Argentina gaining the upper hand in their all-time record. La Albiceleste emerged victorious on four occasions, with the remaining two games finishing level.

  • 1956 Panamerican: Argentina 4-3 Costa Rica
  • 1960 Panamerican: Argentina 0-0 Costa Rica
  • 1960 Panamerican: Argentina 2-0 Costa Rica
  • 2010 friendly: Argentina 3-2 Costa Rica
  • 2011 friendly: Argentina 0-0 Costa Rica
  • 2011 Copa America: Argentina 3-0 Costa Rica

How to watch and kick-off time

Kick-off is scheduled for 10:50 PM (ET), with several broadcasting options around the world.

To watch or live stream the game in the US, you can tune in on Fubo (7-day free trial). Other options: CBS Sports and FOX Deportes.

Argentina take on Costa Rica

Welcome! Argentina and Costa Rica face off at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tonight, and you can follow the game live here. Stay with us and don't miss a single thing!

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