Maxi goal gets Maradona era off on right note

Scotland 0 Argentina 1: A Maxi Rodriguez goal after eight minutes against Scotland at Hampden gave Diego Maradona victory in…

Scotland 0 Argentina 1:A Maxi Rodriguez goal after eight minutes against Scotland at Hampden gave Diego Maradona victory in his first game in charge of Argentina. Allan McGregor made a great save from Argentina skipper Javier Mascherano before Rodriguez finished off a fine move by sliding the ball past the Scotland keeper from close range.

The South Americans, slick and speedy at times, appeared to ease off after their blistering start but still dominated most of the match, leaving the Scots looking for their first friendly win at the national stadium since 1996.

Scotland boss George Burley was pleased with the workout, praising his side for recovering after being completely outclassed early on.

He said: "It was a very good exercise. We knew we were going against top-class opposition, a load of quality.

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"We were able to look at a few players. I thought the first 15 minutes, they overran us. They pushed us right back with their movement.

"But after that, I thought we held our own, had one or two opportunities and worked very hard."

Most of the attention before the game was on Maradona, who returned to Glasgow for the first time since he scored his first goal for Argentina in a 3-1 friendly win at Hampden in 1979.

The former Napoli and Barcelona superstar was given a huge roar of approval from the Tartan Army, mostly for his 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 World Cup.