Lionel Messi runs rings around Hong Kong
Argentina superstar scores twice as he comes on in the second half to help visitors destroy the home side in front of a half-empty stadium
They should have borrowed the barricades and pitched it around Hong Kong's 18-yard box. That would have been the strategy to stop Argentina as they went on a seven-goal spree against Hong Kong on Tuesday night.
Lionel Messi only came on with an hour gone but he took just six minutes to score his first goal, then created another, before wrapping up the night with his second and Argentina's seventh as the visitors toyed with their hosts in an exhilarating display of football.
Even the appearance of a Chinese fan who ran on to the field with a pen in his hand, didn't faze the four-time world footballer of the year.
The difference in the two sides was clear. There was a wide gulf but I must commend the enthusiasm showed by the Hong Kong team
Unflustered and as cool as ever, Messi signed the shirt before the fan was frog-marched out by security guards.
"It was a big surprise to see him run on to the field. But I can understand it and the reaction of the Hong Kong public," said Argentine coach Gerardo Martino.
They cried out for Messi and he delivered with his every touch of the ball evoking gasps of admiration.
Hong Kong were reduced to mere props as the great man weaved his spell in a memorable second half.
It was a shame Hong Kong Stadium was only half-full. The match to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Hong Kong Football Association will be a loss-making exercise, but it will be long remembered by the 20,230 fans.
Messi's first goal was a delicate chip over Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai after he had played a one-two with Ever Banega.
His second was even more spectacular as he beat three defenders running across the face of the goal before burying his shot in the left-hand corner.
Messi's absence in the starting line-up was greeted with dismay as coach Martino rested all his stars, including Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Erik Lamela, Federico Fernandez and Marcos Rojo.
On Saturday, Argentina lost 2-0 to Brazil at the Beijing Olympic Stadium and this was just a stopover to rake in the cash - an estimated HK$30 million in appearance fees. Brazil thrashed Japan 4-0 in another friendly pn Tuesday night in Singapore.
"The difference in the two sides was clear. There was a wide gulf but I must commend the enthusiasm showed by the Hong Kong team," said Martino. Messi was already packing his boots in his bag getting ready to catch a flight out for Barcelona.
Hong Kong defended bravely for 19 minutes before the floodgates opened. Banega opened the scoring pouncing on a rebound after Yapp and defender Lee Chi-ho got in a tangle.
Hong Kong looked to have weathered the storm but disaster struck just before half-time when Argentina scored twice in three minutes, the first from Gonzalo Higuain's unstoppable header followed by Nicolas Gaitan's left-footed volley, leaving Yapp again rooted to the spot.
Higuain added his second eight minutes after the break to make it 4-0 but all the action was off the pitch with Messi warming up on the sidelines.
The fans loved it. "Messi, Messi" they screamed.
And he obliged in style.
Yes, those barricades in Causeway Bay and Admiralty might have served Hong Kong better inside the stadium.
