Maradona tinkers to win Russian duel with Hiddink

(EPA)

Inspired substitutions proved the difference as Diego Maradona's Argentina came from behind to beat Guus Hiddink's Russia in a friendly in Moscow yesterday.

Lisandro Lopez and Jesus Datolo both scored within seconds of coming on to give Argentina a 3-1 lead before Russian substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko pulled one back for the home side with 10 minutes remaining.

Igor Semshov had earlier given Russia the lead before Sergio Aguero struck a fine equaliser for Argentina on the stroke of half-time.

Hiddink was missing wide men Vladimir Bystrov and Chelsea newcomer Yuri Zhirkov for the match at the Lokomotiv Stadium, while Maradona, in addition to the injured trio of Carlos Tevez, Martin Demichelis and Juan Sebastian Veron, lost Lionel Messi to a pulled muscle on the eve of the game.

In a lively opening both sides created opportunities before Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Semshov put Russia ahead on 17 minutes, firing a shot in from a tight angle which Argentina goalkeeper Mariano Andujar got a weak hand to but could not keep out.

Aguero was looking menacing for the visitors up front, hitting the side-netting on 14 minutes and going close in the 37th minute, having broken clear and turned Sergei Ignashvich only to see his chip shot blocked by the onrushing Igor Akinfeev.

But Argentina's pressure was rewarded on the stroke of half-time when a Jonas Gutierrez cross from the left was cleared by Ignashevich only as far as Aguero, who struck a sublime finish from 25 yards past a helpless Akinfeev and in off the post.

Maradona, with one eye on the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Paraguay at the beginning of September, rung the changes at half-time, bringing on Lopez for Diego Milito, and the Lyons hitman made an instant impact, picking up a pass from Emiliano Papa and evading some frantic Russian defending before drilling low past Akinfeev.

Datolo struck the third in the 59th minute from the edge of the box having been introduced by Maradona just seconds beforehand.

Russia had a shout for a penalty turned down in the 65th minute when Andriy Arshavin tumbled under a challenge from goalkeeper Andujar, and Aleksandr Anyukov and Alan Dzagoev both dragged shots wide before Pavlyuchenko, a replacement for Aleksandr Kerzhakov, reduced the deficit with a deflected free-kick.

Lionel Messi will undergo tests at Barcelona today after he was forced to pull out of the game through injury. Messi felt a twinge in his right leg after training on Tuesday and was examined by doctors who found he had pulled a muscle.

"The Barça first team doctors have been in touch with the Argentinian medical staff to discuss the injury," Barcelona announced. "We await the arrival of the player on Thursday morning, when further tests will be carried out to discover the seriousness of the injury."

Messi is likely to miss both legs of the Supercopa de Espana against Athletic Bilbao but should be fit for Argentina's World Cup qualifier at home to Brazil on 5 September.