Gianluca Prestianni and Franco Mastantuono reached a personal milestone by scoring their first goals for the Argentina national team in the emphatic 7-0 win over Burkina Faso. The friendly victory on October 4th provided the perfect platform for the young talents to open their accounts for the Albiceleste.
Prestianni, a starter from Benfica, opened his tally in the 12th minute following a pass from Lautaro Martínez. The winger not only scored but also assisted Julián Álvarez for Argentina's fifth goal. Meanwhile, Mastantuono, who plays for Fiorentina, came on at halftime and sealed his moment in the 57th minute, again with Lautaro as the provider.
Manager Lionel Scaloni made eleven changes to his lineup for this match, testing variations in a team that tops its World Cup qualifying group with 9 points. Argentina is on a two-game winning streak and its next fixture is against Benin on October 6th.
With eight goals scored and only one conceded in the qualifying phase, Argentina demonstrates solid attacking power. The goals from Prestianni and Mastantuono expand Scaloni's options for the future, adding depth to an attack that already features established stars. The match ended with an experimental formation, giving valuable minutes to several Argentine football prospects.
The October 4th match provided an additional fact: Lautaro Martínez missed a penalty in the 4th minute, according to the official match data. The striker, who later scored and provided two assists, erred from the spot before opening the scoring. Manager Lionel Scaloni confirmed the starting lineup with Emiliano Martínez in goal and an eleven that included Nico Paz and Facundo Medina. Argentina, leader of their qualifying group with a five-point lead, added their second consecutive win.
After scoring his first goal for Argentina in the 7-0 win, Franco Mastantuono reflected on the pressure. The 19-year-old told reporters: "Sincerely, I believe people are very demanding of me, and I understand it." The Fiorentina attacker, whose registration belongs to Real Madrid, admitted the expectations generated since his debut at 16 are high but stated he plays for himself and the team. La Albiceleste, group leaders with 9 points and a five-point lead, face Benin on October 6.
Franco Mastantuono expanded on his comments about the pressure after his first goal. The 19-year-old player stated: "Many times they are hard on me, but I try to enjoy being in the national team." The attacker, whose transfer rights belong to Real Madrid, also admitted it was "sad" to be left out of the previous World Cup. La Albiceleste, leader of the qualifying group with 9 points, faces Benin on October 6.
