Spain slipped to just their third defeat since 2006 as they suffered a 4-1 friendly loss to Argentina.
Hosts triumphant in Buenos Aires as Spain struggle to reply
Spain slipped to just their third defeat since 2006 as they suffered a 4-1 friendly loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The hosts wasted no time getting off the mark with Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain, who both ply their trade in Spain, putting them 2-0 ahead inside the opening 14 minutes.
Carlos Tevez added another in the 34th minute following a costly Jose Reina error, and the visitors were only able to pull one back through Fernando Llorente late on before Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero wrapped up the home side's victory in injury time.
Argentina, under the guidance of interim boss Sergio Batista following the departure of Diego Maradona, join the United States and Switzerland as the only sides to have beaten World Cup winners Spain in their last 58 matches.
With the likes of Xavi, Fernando Torres and captain Iker Casillas rested following Spain's 4-0 Euro 2012 qualifying victory over Liechtenstein, Vicente Del Bosque's new-look side were soon feeling the pressure.
Tevez dragged an attempt wide early on before putting Messi inside the area soon after, allowing the Barcelona ace to neatly chip the ball into the net.
Superb
Manchester City man Tevez was involved again minutes later as his superb pass set up Higuain for the second goal, which the Real Madrid forward curled in from a tight angle.
Spain were soon shocked into action and came close in the 28th minute when David Villa hit the top of the far post with an impressive 30-yard left-footed drive.
But their troubles continued with just over 10 minutes until the break when Reina collected Alvaro Arbeloa's back pass but slipped, allowing Tevez to nip forward and tuck in the third goal.
Villa struck the post for a second time just before the break but they had to wait until the 84th minute for their consolation goal, when Pedro Rodriguez fed Llorente, who turned and fired the ball inside the far post.
But Argentina put the finishing touch to their triumph when substitute Aguero nodded in a Gabriel Heinze cross in the dying minutes.
