Two late goals by superstars Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi helped Argentina rally from a two-goal deficit to tie Mexico 2-2 in a Tuesday friendly at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex.
Mexico went ahead courtesy of an 18th-minute penalty by Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and a 70th-minute tally by Hector Herrera, his second goal for El Tri in as many games, but Mexico's defense could not hold on late. Substitutes Ezequiel Lavezzi and Aguero linked up while the Mexican defense faltered, allowing Aguero to tap in a shot to narrow the deficit, before Messi scored an audacious goal by taking an aerial ball from Aguero, turning and firing past Mexico 'keeper Moises Munoz on the volley just before the end of regular time.
Munoz had made two key stops earlier in the game to preserve Mexico's lead, but in the end, Argentina overcame their early finishing woes to grab the draw.
For Mexico, the game was the final tune-up before the momentous CONCACAF Cup playoff against the US national team on Oct. 10 at the Rose Bowl, and comes on the heels of a wild 3-3 friendly draw against Trinidad & Tobago last week.
On the bright side for El Tri fans, Mexico appear to be getting in a scoring rhythm under interim head coach Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti after a largely difficult Gold Cup campaign this summer, but their inability to maintain a lead has to be a concern heading into the US game. Despite that, even managing a draw against Argentina, currently the No. 1 team in the FIFA rankings, is certainly nothing to sneeze at.
