Lionel Messi scored one as Argentina edge Australia 2-1 to book a quarter-final tie with the Netherlands.
World Cup 2022 Highlights – Argentina 2-1 Australia, Leo Messi plays in his 1000th match and helps Argentina advance to the quarterfinals.
Argentina 2-1 Australia Highlights
Being the better side since the start, but Argentina left it over the half hour mark to finally score.
Messi broke the deadlock with his trademark move and shot the ball through Australia’s defenses, picking out the bottom-left corner.
After the restart, the former Barcelona’s striker saw his effort deflect into Mathew Ryan’s arms as Argentina chased a second. However, the goalkeeper was at fault as Julian Alvarez took advantage of his ridiculous mistake and doubled the lead.
Socceroos pulled one back when Craig Goodwin’s effort deflected off Enzo Fernandez and beyond Emiliano Martinez.
After this goal, Australia pressed and there were moments they were close to an equaliser, while Lautaro Martinez wasted at least two of Messi’s passes to finally put the game to sleep.
It would be unfair not to mention two crucial moments by Lisandro Martinez and keeper Emiliano Martinez.
The Man United’s defender denied Aziz Behich to score what could have been Goal of the tournament contender with an unbelievable block at the 81th minute.
Only moments later, the Aston Villa shot-stopper pulled an incredible last-minute save to keep the lead stand, as his teammates gathering around holding him to show their appreciations.
Notable stats
It was a special day for Messi as the Argentina’s skipper got his 9th goal in his 1000th appearance for the national team.
This also took Messi past the late Diego Maradona as the 2nd best scorer of Albicelestes, shy only of 10-goal Gabriel Batistuta. Messi also scored 788 goals in 1000 appearances (169 for Argentina), at 35 years and 162 days and became his country’s oldest marksman in the World Cup.
What a career, what a player! He also got the MOTM after the victory against the Asian side.
What’s next
World Cup Schedule: Argentina will be facing Netherlands on 10th December as the first Quarter-finals of FIFA World Cup 2022.
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