Maxi Araujo's goal was the difference as Uruguay won 2-1 in an international friendly against Argentina, who suffered their first defeat since Lionel Messi's retirement.
Argentina 1-2 Uruguay: Araujo inflicts first defeat of post-Messi era
Uruguay scored two quickfire goals to start the second half, and Argentina were unable to finish their late attempt at a comeback.
Leonardo Balerdi's own goal gave Uruguay the opener before Araujo doubled their lead shortly after, and though Julian Alvarez pulled one back, Argentina could not find an equaliser.
Alvarez saw an early shot saved, with Thiago Almada denied on the follow-up by Guillermo Varela, before Enzo Fernandez and Facundo Medina both saw efforts saved by Cristopher Fiermarin.
Nico Paz also headed an effort narrowly wide of the post as Argentina failed to turn their first-half pressure into a goal, which proved costly early in the second half.
Just three minutes after the break, Balerdi gave away a free-kick and then was in the wrong place when Lisandro Martinez's clearance went across goal and hit the back of the net off the back of Balerdi's head.
Darwin Nunez drew a smothering save out of Geronimo Rulli moments later before Araujo scooped a glancing header over the goalkeeper from the resulting corner in the 53rd minute.
The game opened up after that, with Almada, Nico Paz and Martinez all seeing chances go begging, before Alvarez halved the deficit in the 71st minute with a late dart into the box.
Nunez and Alvarez saw chances apiece saved at either end as Uruguay held out for a third straight win under Diego Forlan.
Argentina left with questions to answer
Messi said his farewells last time out for Argentina, scoring in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin, which followed two other convincing wins over Bolivia and Burkina Faso.
However, this was the toughest test they have faced post-World Cup, and their wastefulness caused issues against a clinical Uruguay side.
Argentina racked up 17 chances worth 1.32 expected goals (xG), getting six of those on target. Alvarez led their charge in Messi's absence, having a game-high four shots, with three of those on target, though he only contributed 0.33 xG.
Uruguay, by comparison, got three of their six attempts on target, worth 0.38 xG; they were helped by an own goal, but Nunez also provided a constant threat in the second half.
It was not the result Lionel Scaloni would have wanted to celebrate his new contract with, but he will be hoping to see a response when his side host Costa Rica on Tuesday.
