Argentina cruise past Trinidad and Tobago ahead of World Cup

Argentina have maintained their recent unbeaten home record by seeing off Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly.

It took the hosts - who have not lost on home soil since 2011 - until the brink of half time to make the breakthrough courtesy of Rodrigo Palacio, who headed home from a corner just moments after Lionel Messi missed a great chance from close range.

The second followed soon after the interval when Javier Mascherano, who was making his 97th appearance for the Albiceleste, tapped the ball into an empty net after Messi's free kick came back off the post.

Palacio was picked out by a long ball on 65 minutes, before cutting the ball back to Maxi Rodriguez who found the net from a few yards out to make it 3-0 to Argentina.

Alejandro Sabella's side pushed for a fourth goal, but they were unable to find it as the game petered out.