Claudio Úbeda’s Argentina under-20 side made a winning start to their World Cup preparations with a 4-1 victory over Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City.

Estudiantes pair Santiago Ascacibar and Lucas Rodríguez along with Racing striker Lautaro Martínez were rested but La Albiceleste were still too strong for the Vietnamese counter-parts.

Centre forward Ezequiel Ponce slid in the opener after Marcelo Torres squared the ball and minutes after half time, Brian Mansilla doubled the lead, heading in from a Torres cross.

Argentinos Juniors midfielder Juan Ignacio Méndez, a late replacement for Ezequiel Barco, scored twice before the home side snatched a late consolation but it was a comfortable victory for Argentina.

Úbeda’s side will play another friendly against Vietnam under-23s before heading to South Korea for the tournament opener against England in ten days.

Argentina starting XI: Franco Petroli; Gonzalo Montiel, Juan Foyth, Marcos Senesi, Milton Valenzuela; Tomás Belmonte, Santiago Colombatto, Marcelo Torres, Ezequiel Palacios, Brian Mansilla; Ezequiel Ponce