Gonzalo Higuain netted a hat-trick as Argentina saw off South Korea 4-1 to make them all but certain to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup in South Africa.
Diego Maradona was forced to make one change, with Maxi Rodriguez taking the place of the injured Juan Sebastian Veron in midfield.
However, Argentina still made by far the brighter start, dominating the territory and possession in the early stages.
Sixteen minutes in they took the lead after winning a free-kick close to the edge of the left side of the penalty area. Lionel Messi whipped in the set-piece and the ball deflected into his own net off the unfortunate Park Chu-Young.
Shortly afterwards Ki Sung-Yong flashed a long-range drive narrowly over the top, with keeper Sergio Romero struggling to cover.
Argentina were forced to replace defender Walter Samuel due to an injury and just before the half-hour mark Carlos Tevez smashed a right-foot piledriver inches over the crossbar.
Twelve minutes before half-time it was 2-0 as a short free-kick was lifted into the area by Maxi Rodriguez and flicked on by Nicolas Burdisso, allowing Higuain to head home at the far post as he beat the offside trap by a matter of inches.
That looked to have set up the South Americans for a comfortable victory, but right on the interval Martin Demichelis was dispossessed by Lee Chung-Yong and he lifted the ball over the advancing Romero and into the empty net to halve the deficit.
Seven minutes into the second half Korean keeper Jung Sung-Ryong made a superb reaction save as Higuain flicked the ball goalwards, following good work from Tevez and Angel Di Maria.
Just before the hour mark it was almost 2-2, as a superb counter-attack ended with Yeom Ki-Hun running clear on the right, but he shot wide with just Romero to beat.
That proved to be a crucial moment, as the South Americans went on to dominate the remainder of the game.
Fourteen minutes from time Jung Sung-Ryong blocked a Messi drive with his feet. Messi fired the rebound goalwards and it came back off a post to leave Higuain with a tap-in from a matter of inches.
Four minutes later it was 4-1, as Messi played in sub Sergio Aguero on the left, he lifted the ball across the area and the unmarked Higuain headed home to complete his treble.
Aguero flashed a late effort narrowly wide of the far post, as Argentina fired a warning to the rest of the competition.
Argentina v Korea Republic Full match details
Source: DSG
