Lionel Scaloni guided Argentina to a decisive 4-0 victory against Bolivia on Wednesday (30) night during an international friendly at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba. Palmeiras forward Jose Manuel Lopez stepped onto the pitch as a second-half substitute and struck in the 86th minute, completing a dominant showing in front of the home crowd as the fixture moved into stoppage time.
Operating without veteran captain Lionel Messi on the roster, the reigning world champions lined up in a dynamic 4-4-2 setup featuring Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez leading the frontline. Argentina established full control of the tempo from the opening whistle, pinning back a Bolivian side deployed by manager Oscar Villegas in a cautious 3-5-2 system anchored by goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra. The lopsided scoreline reflected the persistent attacking rhythm displayed by the hosts throughout the contest.
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First-half strikes by Lautaro Martinez and Nico Paz put hosts firmly ahead
Aggressive pressing from the home side yielded prompt dividends during the opening exchanges in Cordoba. In the 19th minute, central midfielder Alexis Mac Allister threaded a precise through ball between the opposing central defenders, allowing Lautaro Martinez to shoot right-footed into the lower-left corner of the net past Guillermo Viscarra. That breakthrough unsettled the visitors and permitted Argentina to sustain possession deep in the attacking third with rapid ball circulation.
Ten minutes later, the hosts doubled their cushion through an incisive combination orchestrated through central channels. Exequiel Palacios found space outside the penalty area and delivered a sharp pass into the path of Nico Paz in the 29th minute. The attacking midfielder controlled the ball smoothly before placing a firm left-footed strike straight into the center of the Bolivian net, leaving the defensive block stranded. Bolivian defender Diego Arroyo subsequently sustained an injury and left the match in the 43rd minute, replaced by Leonardo Viviani.
Momentum remained entirely on Argentina‘s side when both squads re-emerged from the dressing rooms for the second half. Nico Paz demonstrated his vision once more in the 54th minute, delivering a tailored free kick into the heart of the Bolivian box. Center-back Cristian Romero escaped his marker and powered a header into the bottom-left corner to secure the third goal, right before making way for Leonardo Balerdi as part of a scheduled defensive substitution.
Palmeiras striker Jose Manuel Lopez delivers fourth goal from the bench
- 2022: Jose Manuel Lopez completes his transfer to Palmeiras, beginning his professional career in Brazilian club football.
- September 30, 2026, 9:00 p.m.: Argentina kicks off the international friendly in Cordoba utilizing an altered squad structure.
- September 30, 2026, 10:41 p.m.: Lopez replaces Lautaro Martinez at the 75-minute mark and scores the final goal eleven minutes later.
The fourth and final conversion arrived courtesy of tactical adjustments executed by Lionel Scaloni during the final quarter of the match. Striker Jose Manuel Lopez entered the contest in the 75th minute to relieve Lautaro Martinez after an effective shift. The 25-year-old Palmeiras attacker required merely eleven minutes to leave his mark on the scoresheet at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes: in the 86th minute, he collected a loose ball inside the penalty area and fired a clean left-footed shot into the right side of the net, sealing the 4-0 score.
Bolivia attempted to construct counter-attacks behind the individual footwork of forward Miguel Terceros, yet struggled consistently to breach Argentina’s disciplined shape. In an effort to halt the relentless pressure, Oscar Villegas executed four simultaneous substitutions in the 83rd minute, bringing on Luis Haquin, Jose Martinez, Rai Lima, and Diego Medina. Those personnel adjustments failed to disrupt Argentina’s dominance, as the home side retained territorial possession and dictated the match flow until the concluding whistle.
Technical sheet and key details of the match in Cordoba
- Date and kickoff time: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. local time (Brasilia time).
- Venue: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, located in Cordoba, Argentina.
- Broadcast coverage: Sportv provided live television transmission across Brazil.
- Match referee: Jhon Alexander Ospina Londono from Colombia served as the central official.
- Final registered score: Argentina 4-0 Bolivia after 90 minutes of regulation play.
- Goalscorers: Lautaro Martinez at 19′, Nico Paz at 29′, Cristian Romero at 54′, and Jose Manuel Lopez at 86′.
This international exhibition provided Lionel Scaloni with an opportunity to assess emerging talent and players active across South American domestic leagues, including Flaco Lopez, while maintaining winning standards without veteran starters. Bolivia sought to absorb pressure within a physical five-man defensive structure, but yielded crucial gaps during set-piece deliveries and rapid transitional sequences directed by the Argentine midfield.
Minute-by-minute timeline of notable actions during the exhibition
- 19 minutes, 1st half: Lautaro Martinez slots home a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner following an assist from Alexis Mac Allister.
- 29 minutes, 1st half: Nico Paz receives an incisive feed from Exequiel Palacios and fires a left-footed attempt into the center of the goal.
- 50 minutes, 2nd half: Miguel Terceros receives a yellow card from the referee for simulation inside the Argentine penalty box.
- 54 minutes, 2nd half: Cristian Romero meets a free kick delivered by Nico Paz to plant a header into the lower corner.
- 75 minutes, 2nd half: Jose Manuel Lopez enters the field of play in place of Lautaro Martinez to refresh the home attack.
- 86 minutes, 2nd half: Jose Manuel Lopez strikes with his left foot from the center of the box into the right corner for the fourth goal.
- 88 minutes, 2nd half: Marcelo Torrez commits a foul against Valentin Gomez along the left flank, allowing Argentina to maintain attacking pressure.
The friendly meeting in Cordoba moved through added time overseen by Colombian referee Jhon Alexander Ospina Londono. Argentina closed out the evening circulating possession safely across the middle third of the pitch, protecting their four-goal advantage with complete authority until the final whistle.