Lionel Messi produced a moment of trademark quality, scoring the opener in a 2-1 win over Australia to send Argentina to the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Saturday. Messi’s 789th goal in his 1,000th career appearance – but the first in the knockout rounds of the World Cup – helped set up a last-eight game with the undefeated Netherlands on Friday. Julian Alvarez scored another in the 57th minute after a disastrous Australian defense, before Enzo Fernandez’s own goal in the 77th minute set up an unexpectedly nervous final. Now 35, one of the greatest players of all time is trying to win the tournament for the first time in what will surely be his last World Cup.
Messi’s stylish goal in the first half, pushing the ball into the bottom corner, broke the resistance and ultimately the hearts of a brave Australian side who defied all odds in Qatar and went down fighting.
Australia’s yellow shirt fans were vastly outnumbered by the packed crowd at the 45,000 capacity Ahmad bin Ali Stadium and were drowned out by Argentina’s boisterous, roaring and bouncing supporters.
Back in Australia, where fans had a sunrise if they wanted to watch the game live on television, the Sydney Opera House was lit up in green and gold.
Their side was a huge underdog — few at home expected them to even get this far in the tournament — but this was a World Cup full of shocks.
Two-time champions Argentina suffered perhaps the biggest shock in Qatar when they lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening game.
But there would be no repetition here.
Graham Arnold’s Socceroos tried to upset their opponents. Keanu Baccus left one behind Messi and Jackson Irvine was booked for hitting left-back Marcos Acuna.
Argentina had pinned Australia but the Socceroos were determined and gaining confidence as an uninspiring first half continued.
Messi grew frustrated as he struggled on the touchline with Australian defender Aziz Behich.
Argentina and their coach Lionel Scaloni desperately needed something special and in Messi they got it 10 minutes before the break.
Alexis Mac Allister gave defender Nicolas Otamendi, still in the penalty area for an Argentina free-kick, a foul check into the path of Messi, who deflected the ball over the ground into the corner with his left foot.
It was Argentina’s first shot on target.
– Ryan blunders –
Australia had only come this far once before, in 2006, and they had to attack in the second half.
Instead, they self-destructed. Goalkeeper and captain Mathew Ryan tried to play out under fierce pressure in his penalty area from the running Rodrigo De Paul just before the hour mark and was dispossessed by Alvarez.
The 22-year-old Manchester City striker narrowed it in, stole the ball from Ryan and turned to slide into an empty net for his second goal in as many games. Arnold pounded on his dugout in frustration.
The Socceroos looked dead and buried, but substitute Goodwin clung to a loose clearance and his shot hit Fernandez and rebounded with 13 minutes remaining.
Behich then went on a great mazy run from left back, beating three Argentine players before Lisandro Martinez mounted a crucial last ditch challenge.
Teenager Garang Kuol then forced Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez into a desperate save deep into stoppage time before the massive ranks of South American fans celebrated a major win.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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