Argentina cruises at Coliseum

Argentina’s soccer team showed Wednesday night why it is the favorite to take home the Olympic gold medal in Beijing this summer. The Albicelestes (Argentina’s nickname, which means white and light blue) don’t come to Los Angeles often, but when they do, they make an impression.

Argentina, playing in L.A. for the third time in nine years, defeated Guatemala, 5-0, at the Coliseum in front of an estimated 35,000.

And the game wasn’t even as close as the score would indicate.

Argentina was superior to Guatemala in every part of the game -- even though it seemed as if the players were going half-speed at times.

Forwards Gonzalo Higuain, 20, of Real Madrid, led the way with two goals and Ezequiel Lavezzi, 22, of Napoli, added another. Midfielder Roman “Romy” Riquelme, 29, of Argentina’s Boca Juniors, assisted on two of the first three goals.

All five goals were high quality, but Lavezzi’s goal in the 34th minute was a thing of beauty. Currently playing in Italy’s Serie A for the same team Diego Maradona played for, Lavezzi beat Guatemala goalkeeper Luis Pedro Molina with a powerful left-footed shot that Molina never really had a chance to stop.

Lavezzi is one of three young Argentines currently playing in Europe who have been labeled as the next Maradona. The others are Lionel Messi, 20, of Barcelona and Sergio “Kun” Aguero, 19, of Atletico Madrid. Aguero, incidentally, is dating Maradona’s daughter, Giannina.

Messi and Aguero did not make the trip, but both are expected to be in Beijing. One can only imagine how good this squad will be in August once that duo becomes part of the mix.

Guatemala Coach Hernan Dario “El Bolillo” Gomez knew the dangers of playing in this game and tried to warn his team. Gomez got in trouble leading up to the game for saying that his team could very well suffer a lopsided loss.

Gomez, who has guided two countries to the World Cup, does not have a good history against Argentina. He resigned as coach of Ecuador during the 2004 Copa America after his squad lost to Argentina, 6-1.

He didn’t resign this time, but he probably had flashbacks.

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jaime.cardenas@latimes.com