13 November 2014
Carlos Tevez and Roberto Pereyra both came off the bench as Argentina ran out 2-1 victors over Croatia in an international friendly at Upton Park on Wednesday evening.
Winger Anas Sharbini had initially given the Croatians a half-time lead with his maiden goal for his country, turning in Mateo Kovacic’s pass after 11 minutes.
But La Albiceleste rallied and turned the game on its head with two goals in the space of eight second-half minutes. Cristian Ansaldi initially levelled matters 240 seconds following the restart before Lionel Messi converted a penalty after Sergio Aguero was fouled in the area by opposition shotstopper Lovre Kalinic.
Tevez – who was returning to his old stomping ground after spending the 2006/07 season with West Ham United – was greeted by rapturous applause as he replaced Aguero around the hour-mark before Pereyra was then introduced nine minutes later, taking Ever Banega’s position in midfield.
Elsewhere, Federico Mattiello and Kingsley Coman will go head-to-head this evening during a friendly between Italy Under-20 and France Under-21 in Spezia, kick-off 20.45 CET.
