Bertoglio double hands Argentina victory

(PA) Thursday 6 May 2010

Argentina showed no mercy against Haiti as Diego Maradona's side claimed a 4-0 friendly victory in one of their final warm-up matches before the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The Albiceleste fielded a home-based team and the players boosted their chances of making the 30-man preliminary squad to be named on 11 May.

Maradona told TyC Sports: "The guys got my message very well. I told them all of them had one chance and they knew to profit from it. There were high peaks in form. I liked several players. I got into this match looking for some men (for the preliminary squad). I think I got some."

Argentina took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when uncapped Facundo Bertoglio profited from a defensive mistake by Pierre-Richard Bruny. They doubled their tally nine minutes later when Boca Juniors' all-time top-scorer Martin Palermo headed home an Ariel Garce cross from the right.

The hosts extended their lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances five minutes after the interval. Lanus midfielder Sebastian Blanco crossed the ball from outside the box and it flew over his team-mates and into the net past surprised Haiti goalkeeper Dominique-Jean Zephyrin. Bertoglio grabbed his second of the night in the 55th minute, beating substitute goalkeeper Occenat Peterson with a right-footed shot.

Haiti, whose players took photos with Maradona during the break, posed little danger to their hosts. Argentina's final friendly will be on 24 May against Canada in Buenos Aires before they kick off their South Africa 2010 campaign against Nigeria on 12 June.