BERLIN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Argentina beat 10-man hosts Germany 3-1 in an international soccer friendly at Frankfurt Arena on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi, Angelo Di Maria and Sami Khedira's own goal helped "La Albiceleste" to take the win. Goalie Ron Robert Zieler weakened the German side with a straight red card, only 12 minutes into the match.
Germany staged an offensive start whereas Argentina needed some time to gain a foothold into the match. Zieler ensured the first highlight of the match when he tackled Jose Sosa inside penalty box in the 12th minute, to cause a straight red card and a penalty. Substitute goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen came from the bench to parry a weak shot by Lionel Messi from the spot to deny the lead.
However, in the dying minutes of the first half, German midfielder Sami Khedira opened the scoring with an own goal, from very close range, when he attempted to clear a Di Maria corner from the near post. Thus Germany had to swallow an unlucky deficit before the break.
Five minutes into second half Mesut Oezil sent the ball home on Sami Khedira's assist, but the referee decided on offside. Only two minutes later Argentine top striker Lionel Messi utilized a diagonal pass by Gonzalo Higuain to curl home from 15 meters central position into bottom left to make it 2-0 on the scoreboards.
In the 73rd minute, Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria tripled the lead with a hammering shot from 20 meters to beat Germany goalkeeper ter Stegen.
Time was running out for the Germans, who were only able to shorten the score to 3-1, owing to the consolation goal by Benedikt Hoewedes, following diagonal pass into path by midfielder Mario Goetze.
"After the red card we had fallen behind. The own goal was not helpful for us, but Argentina played well and gave us a hard fight," Germany coach Joachim Loew said after the match.