Striker Javier Saviola scored one and set up another to put Argentina on the road to a 4-1 win over Japan in the Kirin Cup on Sunday, further denting Japan coach Zico's preparations ahead of the upcoming Confederations Cup.
The Barcelona marksman rifled home the opener in the 30th minute at Nagai Stadium in Osaka and fed captain Javier Zanetti for a superb second on the stroke of halftime.
Veteran defender Yutaka Akita pulled one back for the host 10 minutes after the interval but Argentina, missing a number of first-team regulars, got further goals from substitutes Bernando Romeo and Maximiliano Rodriguez to leave Zico still looking for his first win on home soil.
Japan has won just once in six matches under Zico -- a 1-0 win against South Korea in Seoul in April -- since he took over from Frenchman Philippe Troussier last summer. It was its fifth loss in as many matches to Argentina.