Argentina beat a determined Japan team 3-1 in Bandung thanks to goals in the first half from Claudio Echeverri and Valentino Acuna, as well as a late goal by Agustin Ruberto.

The South Americans required just five minutes to take the lead, thanks to a wonderful free kick from 25 yards out that was curled into the top corner by Echeverri, who channelled the spirit of fellow Argentinean No. 10 Lionel Messi.

The ball was back in Japan’s net before they could even regroup.

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After just three minutes, Santiago Lopez scored by side-footing the ball after going on a rampaging run down the right.

However, Yoshiro Moriyama pumped his team up at halftime, and in the second half, they flew out of the traps.

Within five minutes, Shotaro Shibata, following in the footsteps of Lopez in the first half, broke down the right and cut the ball back for Rento Takaoka, who scored his second goal of the tournament with a volley.

Substitute Gakuto Kawamura then appeared to have equalised shortly before the end of the match when he tapped in from a corner, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul on goalkeeper Jeremias Florentin during the build-up.

In the eighth minute of stoppage time, Argentina secured the win when Ruberto’s effort from outside the area deflected in off a Japan player and caught goalkeeper Wataru Goto off guard.