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Argentina, Mexico notch Copa America warmup wins

Mar 28, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi (22) shoots as El Salvador midfielder Alexander Larin (13) attempts to block the shot during the second half at FedEx Field. Argentina defeated El Salvador 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

By Rex Gowar BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina rested Lionel Messi to let him recover from a sore foot but still had too much attacking firepower for El Salvador on Saturday as they ran out 2-0 winners in a friendly in Washington. Coach Gerardo Martino fielded a side led by Angel Di Maria that included only three others from the 2014 World Cup, and tested a two-pronged attack in Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain. Tevez is getting another shot at the Copa America in Chile in June after being overlooked since Argentina’s exit in the quarter-finals of the 2011 tournament they hosted and missing last year’s World Cup. El Salvador defended en masse and never got near Argentine goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman. It took nearly an hour to break the deadlock, Ever Banega finding the net through a deflected shot from outside the box. Substitute Federico Mancuello produced the highlight of the match at FedEx Field two minutes from time when he curled a free kick into the top corner from a tight angle. Messi hopes to lead his side in a more serious Copa America warmup on Tuesday in New Jersey against Ecuador, who lost 1-0 to Mexico in Los Angeles. Striker Javier Hernandez, much like Falcao for Colombia on Thursday, jumped at the chance to start a match after seeing limited action with his club and responded by scoring Mexico’s 14th minute winner at the LA Coliseum. Hernandez stole the ball from a defender, skipped past another and curled his shot in off the far post for his 39th goal for Mexico. Goalkeeper Jesus Corona saved a penalty from Miller Bolanos in the 72nd minute for Mexico, who meet Paraguay in Kansas City on Tuesday. Mexico are preparing for two tournaments, the Copa America from June 11-July 4, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States, which kicks off on July 7. Ecuador, the only South American team not to progress beyond the group stage at the World Cup finals in Brazil, are rebuilding under new Argentine coach Gustavo Quinteros, who was in charge for the first time on Saturday. Copa holders Uruguay, having to play without the suspended Luis Suarez, had a 1-0 win over Morocco in Agadir, scoring through an Edinson Cavani penalty. Colombia, with Falcao in fine form after scoring twice in a 6-0 rout of Bahrain, visit Kuwait on Monday. (Additional reporting by Carlos Calvo in Mexico City; Editing by Peter Rutherford)