BUENOS AIRES (Interstat) — Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 on Tuesday, using a dominant second half and a standout performance from Lionel Messi to stay perfect in the competition. Messi played the full match and finished with one goal and two assists, helping Argentina turn a tight first half into a comfortable home win. Benin held firm early and reached halftime without conceding, but Argentina’s pressure eventually told after the break.

The first half was largely a test of patience for Argentina. Benin defended in numbers and limited space in the final third, keeping the home side from finding an early breakthrough. Otamendi’s booking in the 44th minute was the main flash point before the break, and Argentina went into halftime knowing it needed a sharper edge after the restart. The visitors’ best spell came before the interval, but they could not turn possession into a goal.

Nicolas Otamendi opened the scoring in the 48th minute. The defender had been booked in the 44th minute, then gave Argentina the lead with a goal shortly after the restart. Otamendi was substituted in the 52nd minute, ending his night with a goal and a yellow card. His goal came after Argentina had probed without success for much of the first half, and it changed the match’s tone. Argentina continued to push forward, and Benin’s back line had to absorb repeated attacks.

Nicolas Paz Martinez doubled Argentina’s advantage in the 61st minute. Paz, who played 30 minutes, made his time on the field count with the second goal. Messi was central to both strikes, setting up Argentina’s first two goals before adding a goal of his own as part of his one-goal, two-assist performance. Argentina’s attack grew sharper as Benin’s resistance faded, and the home side controlled possession and territory through the closing stages. Benin could not generate a response after falling behind by multiple goals.

Benin’s Tijani was shown a yellow card in the 55th minute, one of the visitors’ few notable moments in a match that increasingly tilted toward Argentina. Benin made several substitutions as it tried to change the game, including changes in the 64th minute with Olaitan and Ouorou, in the 75th minute with Tosin and Ouorou, and in the 76th minute with Dandjinou. Benin also made a triple substitution in the 90+1st minute, bringing on Roche, Aloko and Imourane. Argentina also rotated its squad, with Otamendi among those withdrawn in the 52nd minute. Argentina made further changes in the 52nd minute with Tagliafico, in the 59th with Alvarez, in the 60th with de Paul, in the 79th with Fernandez and Martinez, and in the 80th with Mac Allister and Romero.

Messi remained on the field for all 90 minutes, a constant outlet as Argentina saw out the result. His goal and two assists made him the game’s top performer, while Paz and Otamendi provided the other scoring contributions. The result improved Argentina’s season record in this competition to 2-0 and its record across all competitions to 2-0. Benin dropped to 0-1 in the competition and 0-1 across all competitions. Argentina had previously beaten Burkina Faso 7-0 earlier this season.

The win kept Argentina unbeaten in the competition and extended a strong start to its season. Benin, meanwhile, remained without a win after a difficult road match. Argentina’s second-half burst proved decisive, with Messi orchestrating the attack and the home side pulling away after Otamendi’s breakthrough. Argentina finished with three goals and kept Benin off the scoreboard. Argentina’s control in the second half made the closing minutes comfortable.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Argentina 2, Benin 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Argentina with a 68.1 percent probability to win.