Mascherano captains Argentina to victory

Javier Mascherano played all 90 minutes of Argentina’s 2-1 win over Ecuador on Tuesday at a snowy Metlife Stadium, New Jersey. Manager Gerardo Martino decided not to play Messi as a precautionary measure, and watched as his side took an 8th minute lead through Sergio Agüero (8’), the Manchester City heading home a Javier Pastore corner. But Ecuador pulled level through Miller Bolaños on 27 minutes.

Pastore, who’ll be facing Barça later this month with his club PSG, grabbed the winner after 57 minutes, also from a corner. The win means Argentina return from their US tour with a 100 per cent record and look in fine shape ahead of next summer’s Copa America in Chile.