Costa Rica made a mistake at the back of the net in the 16th minute when Enzo sent in a direct shot that was blocked from a small angle in the Alvarez penalty area.
Argentina's front line kept passing in the 21st minute, Garnacho's shot from a small angle was parried by goalkeeper Navas, and Lo Celso followed up with a follow-up shot that was also settled by Navas.
Argentina opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a free kick in front of the net and Otamendi's header was parried off the goal line by goalkeeper Navas.
Di Maria's free kick was not threatened in the 30th minute as it was confiscated directly by goalkeeper Navas.
As the game progressed, Argentina's midfield organization began to fall into disarray, which, coupled with mediocre shooting up front, was the main reason why Costa Rica struggled to open the scoring.
Just as the Argentine formation was pressing hard, Costa Rica capitalized on a counterattack.
On 34 minutes, Costa Rica countered with a two-on-five, Manfrera distributing to Alvaro Zamora, whose low shot was parried by goalkeeper Walter Benitez and Manfrera followed up with a shot into the net to put Argentina 0-1 down.
Statistically, this is the first time Argentina has conceded a goal in its last 10 friendlies, with the last one coming in November 2019 in a 2-2 draw with Uruguay.
At the end of the half, Argentina went into the break with a one-goal deficit. Statistically, when Argentina had 71% of the possession, he had finished with 12 shots and 6 correct shots on goal, but he didn't score. Goalkeeper Navas made three key saves to help keep Costa Rica in goal.
As the second half changed hands, Argentina stepped up their offense and quickly came back from behind to take the lead.
In the 52nd minute, Di Maria took a free kick and broke the world record to help Argentina equalize 1-1.
Statistically, after seven years, an Argentine player has scored a free kick again, the last time being Lionel Messi in 2017. Now that Messi is out, Di Maria has undoubtedly become Argentina's offensive thigh.
Di Maria hit a corner kick in the 56th minute, which was eventually supplemented by McAllister's header, to help Argentina score two goals in four minutes.
After taking a 2-1 lead, Argentina's entire team grew more and more relaxed, and Costa Rica didn't dare to put their formation on the line even when they were behind.
De Paul broke with the ball and then sent a straight shot that Lautaro stabbed home from a small angle in the 77th minute to help extend Argentina's lead 3-1.
The goal allowed Lautaro to finally break a year-and-a-half-long national team scoring drought, last broken in Argentina's 3-0 win over Honduras on September 23, 2022, before going 15 consecutive matches without a goal, including six World Cup matches.
Neither side converted thereafter, and Argentina turned the tables 3-1 to win 17 of their last 18 matches, losing only to Uruguay in the preliminary round.
