 |
Group H - Argentina-Jamaica, Batistuta's barrage buries Jamaica |
 |
Gabriel Batistuta needed just 10 minutes in the second half to record a hat trick and Ariel Ortega had two goals as Argentina punched its ticket to the second round of the World Cup with a 5-0 demolition of newcomer Jamaica in a Group H match on Sunday.
Argentina (2-0-0 in Group H) kept pace with Croatia and has six goals. But with the rout, Argentina holds the tiebreaker on goal differential with a plus-6 to Croatia's plus-3. The sides meet in Bordeaux on Friday.
Ortega tallied in the 32nd minute before adding a marker in the 55th minute. Batistuta, Argentina's all-time leading scorer, then blasted home goals in the 73rd and 79th minutes before converting a penalty kick in the 83rd minute for his second career World Cup hat trick.
Jamaica (0-2-0) played the entire second half with 10 men after midfielder Darryl Powell was given his second yellow card of the match in the second minute of extra time. But the "Reggae Boyz" were outclassed throughout the contest and mustered few quality chances.
