Di Maria scored five minutes before the break in Chicago, capping off a fine team move, with Lionel Messi sitting out as Lionel Scaloni aims to manage his minutes before the tournament.

Argentina, the reigning Copa America champion, was rarely threatened in defence, though without Messi, struggled to add to its lead.

La Albiceleste face Guatemala in a final warm-up match ahead of their title defence.

"It was a deserved win. We have to keep working as we always do and stay as united," Di Maria said. "Ecuador are an opponent we could meet in the Copa. We know it's going to be a very difficult tournament. 

"Today was a good game to show what we can do."

It may have only finished 1-0, but Argentina was largely in control. It finished with 11 shots to Ecuador's five, but did not face a single shot on target.

Argentina ended the match with 1.02 xG to Ecuador's 0.11. 

Ecuador is fancied to impress at the Copa, but it will have to show more potency in attack than it did against Argentina.