Messi-less Argentina mange 2-2 draw against Germany

The hosts' grabbed the reins from the kickoff and needed only 15 minutes to break the deadlock as Lukas Klostermann forced a turn over before assisting Serge Gnabry.

Berlin: Copa America 2019 semi-finalist Argentina came back from being 2-0 down to equaling score with an injury-hit Germany team in their friendly on Wednesday in Dortmund.

Playing without the suspended Lionel Messi — or the likes of Gonzalo Higuaín, Ángel Di María or Sergio Agüero — the visitors still managed to cancel out first-half goals from Serge Gnabry and Kai Havertz with second-half strikes from Lucas Alario and Lucas Ocampos, who scored on his debut.

The hosts' grabbed the reins from the kickoff and needed only 15 minutes to break the deadlock as Lukas Klostermann forced a turn over before assisting Serge Gnabry, who poked home the opener with the outside of his boot from very close range into the far post corner.

Messi-less Argentina mange 2-2 draw against Germany

Joachim Low's men dictated the pace and doubled the lead only seven minutes later after Kai Havertz made no mistake to tap home Gnabry's square pass from the central position.

Germany should have added another goal to their lead at the half-hour mark but Marcel Halstenberg's free-kick rattled only the woodwork.

Argentina got their first chance on target through Rodrigo de Paul, whose long-range effort got denied by the left post.

After the restart, Germany assumed control again as Luca Waldschmidt's volley missed the target before Emre Can be unable to beat Argentina goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin following a one-on-one in the 55th minute.

With their first clear-cut opportunity of the second half, Argentina pulled one back out of the blue as Lucas Alario, who was fielded in the 62nd minute, headed home a cross from Marcos Acuna four minutes later.

The visitors gained momentum and pressed Germany into the defence as Leandro Paredes tested Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen before Alario came close to score his brace.

Argentina's efforts eventually paid off in the 85th minute when Alario's solo run and assist allowed substitute Lucas Ocampos to snatch the 2-2 equaliser into the top left corner.