International Friendly: Portugal 1 Argentina 2

A late penalty from Lionel Messi handed Argentina a 2-1 win over Portugal in their international friendly in Geneva.

Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria gave Argentina the lead after 14 minutes, but Cristiano Ronaldo hit back for Portugal before Messi scored the winning penalty after Fabio Coentrao brought down substitute Juan Manuel Martinez in the box.

Messi was at his blistering best in the early going, and it was one of his trademark runs that unlocked the Portugal defence to create the opener.

The Barcelona star collected the ball on the right wing and beat Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles before supplying Di Maria who powered a shot past Genoa goalkeeper Eduardo.

Portugal fought back strongly as Hugo Almeida headed a cross from Joao Pereira into the path of Ronaldo who reacted quickest to slot the ball past Argentina gloveman Sergio Romero on 20 minutes.

Ronaldo almost scored a second immediately afterwards, with a strong run beating Javier Mascherano before his low shot flew wide following a deflection.

Argentina could have regained the lead six minutes before half-time when Marcos Rojo got forward and delivered a great cross to Ezequiel Lavezzi, but the Napoli striker sent his strike over the bar.

In a pulsating second period, both sides spurned good chances to take the ascendancy.

Almeida missed several gilt-edged openings, while Javier Pastore and Rojo went closest for Argentina.

Ronaldo was replaced by Miguel Danny on the hour mark, prompting Argentina’s strongest spell for the game as a Pastore header thundered off the cross bar before Coentrao’s infringement allowed Messi to seal the win.