Diego Maradona returned to the Argentina bench as a team of
home-based players beat a young Costa Rica side 3-2 on Tuesday in a
World Cup warm-up match.
The friendly, played in the western Argentine province of San
Juan, saw Maradona back on the touchline after serving a two-month
ban from FIFA for a foul-mouthed tirade at reporters.
Argentina twice took the lead through Estudiantes midfielder
Jose Sosa in the 11th minute and Rosario Central defender Guillermo
Burdisso in the 38th.
Costa Rica found an equalizer on both occasions: Saprissa
midfielder Michael Barrantes levelled in the 21st and Universidad
striker Diego Madrigal pulled the sides level for the second time
in the 77th.
Arsenal striker Franco Jara hit the winner for Argentina in
the 80th minute.
Maradona has used more than 90 players in 15 matches since
taking charge of the national side in November 2008. He must prune
the squad to 23 in time for the finals in South Africa.
Costa Rica failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup after
losing to Uruguay in a playoff and fielded a young side as part of
a move to rebuild the national team ahead of the 2014 edition in
Brazil.
Argentina will face Nigeria, South Korea and Greece in Group
B at the World Cup.
