An experimental Argentina side, which included 10 uncapped players, came from behind to beat Honduras 3-1 in a friendly international on Friday despite having two men sent off.

The Central Americans, hoping to emulate their shock 2-0 win over Brazil at the Copa America two years ago, took a seventh-minute lead through Saul Martinez.

Racing Club striker Diego Milito equalised eight minutes later and second-half goals from Luiz Gonzalez and Mariano Gonzalez gave Argentina a morale-boosting win in only their second match since their first-round exit at last year's World Cup.

But having had a numerical advantage for most of the second

half following the sending off of Honduras substitute Maynor Figueroa in the 46th minute, Argentina had to survive a stormy last few minutes after defenders Gabriel Milito and Ariel Garce were dismissed for violent play.

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa, surprisingly kept on after his team's World Cup debacle, fielded only home-based players for the match. Honduras were without Italianbased David Suazo and Julio de Leon.

Argentina had a nightmare start when Martinez outpaced Nicolas Burdisso to fire the opening goal past goalkeeper Sebastian Saja, the only player in the South American team who had been capped before.

But the visitors quickly recovered and Milito equalised from close range, converting a cross from Luis Gonzalez.

Honduras lost Figueroa, who had come on for Hector Gutierrez in

the 30th minute, at the start of the second half for violent play and Argentina took full advantage as they struck twice in devastating six-minute spell.

River Plate midfielder Luis Gonzalez beat a defender and fired home from the edge of the penalty area in the 52nd minute. Then Racing Club's Mariano Gonzalez beat two defenders in the penalty area to strike again in the 58th.

But then the visitors lost Milito, brother of their first goalscorer Diego, in the 73rd minute and Garce eight minutes later.

Argentina continue their tour on Monday, when they take on Mexico in Los Angeles, and face the United States in Miami next Friday.

Honduras were using the match as a warm-up for the CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifying tournament to be played in Panama later this month.