2002 World Cup qualifier - Argentina 2 Ecuador 0

Argentina saw two new SS Lazio stars defeat Ecuador with a goal each from Claudio Lopez and Hernan Crespo to complete their fifth win in five games in 2002 World Cup qualification.

The Argentina team are racing ahead of the rest with a maximum fifteen points while traditional rivals Brazil have drawn two matches and lost yesterday to Paraguay in a game that has caused a blizzard of protests from the Brazilian media calling for coach Wanderley Luxemburgo to resign.

Argentina could even play without record goal scorer Gabriel Batistuta who was injured. Stand in striker Hernan Crespo was the world record transfer last week when Lazio bought him from Parma for £37 million. As Crespo prepared this week for his place in the Argentine attack that figure was eclipsed by Real Madrid's £40 million purchase of Luis Figo but he set his team on the way to a win in Buenos Aires with a diving header from a clipped cross by Ariel Ortega in the 23rd minute.

Earlier Crespo had forced a reflex save from close range by goalkeeper Francisco Cevallos but the match had opened dramatically as Ariel Ortega tried his luck on referee Daniel Bello with a blatant dive in the penalty area and was awarded a penalty. Juan Sebastian Veron hit the penalty wide but it encouraged Ortega to go leaping around all night if a challenge went anywhere close to him.

Besides this farcical element in their play Argentina were in total control of the match and played some great passing moves across the pitch.

Crespo almost scored with a 28th minute header which Cevallos dived to save well but Claudio Lopez - bought by Lazio last month for £22 million - sealed the victory by running in on goal and clipping the ball wide of Cevallos in the 51st minute after defender Augusto Porozo lost the ball in a challenge.

Ecuador have six points from five matches and saw creative wizard Alex Aguinaga brutally felled in the 85th minute by defender Roberto Ayala. Aguinaga was carried off but Ayala did not even get booked for his criminal lunge on the play maker.