Barcelona’s Lionel Messi enjoyed a commanding debut as Argentina skipper as his country opened their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-1 win over Chile on Friday.
Messi scored once while Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain hit a hat-trick to give new coach Alejandro Sabella a triumphant start in his first competitive match in charge.
Argentina’s Spanish club influence was completed by Angel Di Maria setting up two of the goals for his Real Madrid team-mate Higuain.
“It was important to get off on the right foot and we did just that,” said Higuain.
“I liked a lot of what we did tonight. Now we have to keep this up.”
The 1978 and 1986 world champions were ahead after eight minutes at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental where they haven’t lost a World Cup game for 18 years.
Di Maria slipped in a pass to Higuain who drove the ball high into the net past Claudio Bravo in the Chile goal.
Messi then scored his 18th international goal in his 63rd appearance in the 26th minute when he was released by a fine pass from Higuain before beating Bravo with a low shot from the edge of the box.
Di Maria set-up the third for Argentina in the 51st minute when he found Higuain with a smart cross which his Real Madrid team-mate converted with a shot on the turn.
Nine minutes later Matias Fernandez pulled one back for Chile before Messi teed-up Higuain for a his hat-trick in the 63rd minute after a poor Bravo clearance.
Copa America winners Uruguay got their qualifying campaign off to the perfect start as they beat continental outsiders Bolivia 4-2 in Montevideo.
Uruguay took the lead after three minutes when striker Luis Suarez netted from inside the six-yard box.
Bolivia came up with a shock equaliser when Rudy Cardozo clipped the ball over goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and into the net off the far post.
La Celeste reacted well to restore their lead before the half-hour mark when captain Diego Lugano rose highest to head a Forlan free-kick past Carlos Arias.
And it was 3-1 before the interval with Napoli’s Edinson Cavani diving to head home a right-wing Maxi Pereira cross at the far post.
Marcelo Martins pulled another goal back for the visitors from the penalty spot.
Results: Uruguay vs Bolivia 4-2; Ecuador vs Venezuela 2-0; Argentina vs Chile 4-1; Peru vs Paraguay 2-0.