Fernando Batista doesn’t have the squad he would have liked in Lima but Adolfo Gaich, one of the stars of the Under-20s, was once again the key player as ten-man Argentina defeated Ecuador in their Pan-American games opener.

As South American champions back in February, this generation of Ecuadorians have proved to be a tough side to beat and so when Argentina had Nicolás González sent off for a dangerously high boot on goalkeeper José Gabriel Cevallos after only 26 minutes, La Albiceleste looked up against it.

#Lima2019EnTyCSports ¡Roja para González! Así fue la jugada que dejó a la Selección con 10 jugadores. pic.twitter.com/6kG82Tghao

— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) July 29, 2019

However, despite being down to ten men Argentina led. The powerful Adolfo Gaich running at the Ecuador defence from halfway eventually pulled the ball back for Barracas Central midfielder Carlos Valenzuela to slot in.

#Lima2019EnTyCSports ¡GOL ARGENTINO! Luego de una gran jugada de Gaich, Valenzuela puso en ventaja al conjunto nacional. Argentina vence a Ecuador con 10 hombres. pic.twitter.com/Iikgx2i8Zf

— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) July 29, 2019

And it got better for Argentina as Gaich went from provider to goalscorer with a low finish past Cevallos.

#Lima2019EnTyCSports ¡GOL ARGENTINO! Gaich aumentó la ventaja para la Selección en Perú. pic.twitter.com/il2Qh1NuYE

— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) July 29, 2019

Leading two-nil at the break but a man-down, Argentina naturally had to weather some uncomfortable moments and when Facundo Cambeses failed to stop Jordan Rezabala’s free-kick after fifteen minutes from time, a nervy finish looked likely.

#Lima2019EnTyCSports Así fue el descuento de Ecuador para el 1-2 contra Argentina. pic.twitter.com/hSR7g3vbs0

— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) July 29, 2019

Yet as soon as Ecuador were level, Gaich stabbed in his second and Argentina’s third to restore the lead.

#Lima2019EnTyCSports ¡GAICH LE DEVOLVIÓ LA VENTAJA DE 2 GOLES A ARGENTINA! Así marcó el 3-1 para la Selección. pic.twitter.com/I9enCwrCal

— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) July 29, 2019

Anderson Naula pulled one back for Ecuador a minute from time but Argentina held on for the win and are already well placed to qualify for the semi-finals. Batista’s side play México on Thursday before closing out the group with a game against Panama on Sunday.

Argentina: Facundo Cambeses; Marcelo Herrera, Leonel Mosevich, Joaquín Novillo, Facundo Medina; Fausto Vera, Santiago Colombatto, Carlos Valenzuela; Agustín Urzi, Adolfo Gaich, Nicolás González