Maracaibo: Striker Hernan Crespo, playing his first Copa America game at the age of 31, scored twice as Argentina survived an early fright to beat the United States 4-1 on Thursday.
The US, fielding an inexperienced team, snatched an early lead with an Eddie Johnson penalty.
Crespo equalised almost immediately and ended Argentina's anxiety by putting them ahead just after an hour of the Group C match. Substitutes Pablo Aimar and Carlos Tevez added two more in the last 15 minutes as what had been a frustrating match for Alfio Basile's team turned to a romp.
Argentina, who left striker Tevez on the bench and started with Crespo partnering Lionel Messi in attack, fell behind after only nine minutes. Eddie Johnson was clumsily knocked over by Gabriel Milito after breaking clear of the Argentina defence and calmly converted the penalty himself with a shot low to Roberto Abbondanzieri's left.
Argentina hit back two minutes later, Crespo scrambling the ball home after Juan Roman Riquelme, playing his comeback game after quitting the team last September, chipped a free kick into the US area.
The US kept their cool, packed their defence and frustrated Argentina for most of the half, goalkeeper Kasey Keller tipping a Juan Sebastian Veron shot onto the crossbar just before the break.
Argentina brought on Pablo Aimar for Esteban Cambiasso in the 58th minute and immediately began to look more dangerous. Messi burst through the US defence and shot into the side-netting before setting up Crespo's second.
The Barcelona player exchanged passes with Riquelme and slipped the ball to Crespo who placed his shot wide of Keller in the 64th minute. Argentina added a third in the 78th minute when Aimar, arriving late at the near post, headed in Gabriel Heinze's cross.
Tevez came on in the 79th minute and added the fourth sixth minutes later. Latching onto a long pass forward, he pulled the ball down and calmly slotted past Keller.
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