​Olé: Argentina Outshot by Opponent in Second Half; Goal Conceded to Naturalized Defender

March 28 – In a friendly match played this morning Beijing time, Argentina defeated Mauritania 2-1. Enzo Fernández and Nico Paz scored for Argentina in the first half, while in the final moments of the second half, French defender Jordan Le Goff capitalized on an Argentine defensive error to pull one back for Mauritania. According to *Olé*, Mauritania recorded significantly more shots than Argentina in the second half.

The 2-0 halftime score had suggested that Argentina might cruise to a dominant victory over Mauritania at La Bombonera. The anticipation only grew when Lionel Messi came on as a substitute. However, Argentina failed to show the expected attacking force in the second half. Instead, near the end of the friendly, they conceded a goal to the African side after a defensive lapse, with Jordan Le Goff finding the net.

Le Goff, a 32-year-old French center-back, was naturalized to join the "Lions of Chinguetti" (Mauritania's national team nickname) and had never previously played for any club within Mauritania. He seized his opportunity to score against Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

However, more surprising than the away side's goal were Argentina's poor second-half statistics. Mauritania enjoyed 41% possession in the second half (compared to just 30% in the first) and registered **seven shots**, while Argentina managed only **one**.

It is worth noting that the Mauritania squad only confirmed their trip to Buenos Aires seven days ago, and most of its players had never set foot on an Argentine league pitch. Despite this, the team coached by Spanish manager Luis López Garay not only took photos and souvenirs but also left a significant mark on the game during the second half.

Source: Olé