Qatar 2022 World Cup – Argentina beats Australia (2-1) with a goal from Messi and joins the Netherlands in the quarterfinals

Suspense to the end and a quarter-final ticket validated for Argentina. The Albiceleste dominated Australia on Saturday in the round of 16 of the World Cup (2-1). For his 1000th career match, Lionel Messi logically opened the scoring (38th). Julian Alvarez doubled the bet (57th) but the Socceroos reduced the mark on a strike from Craig Goodwin deflected by Enzo Fernandez (77th) and could believe it until the last second. However, it is the Argentines who will find the Netherlands.

The expected match appearance was very quickly confirmed. Without Angel Di Maria but with Papu Gomez in attack, Argentina put their foot on the ball and quietly circulated it in the camp of Australians determined to unite. Combative and united, the Socceroos left no space and watched Messi very closely while the Albiceleste purred.

Messi unblocks the situation

Julian Alvarez was too alone to press and Papu Gomez’s off-target shot did not follow (17th). As Australia grew in confidence, Messi shook it all off. First by responding aggressively in a duel with the opposing left-back Aziz Behich to wake up the Argentine supporters (33rd). Then especially by finding the light of a low shot from the left to the right of the zone of truth following a collective sequence with a touch of the ball (1-0, 35th).

Messi celebrated his 1000th career game with a 789th goal, his 3rd in this World Cup and his very first in the knockout phase of a World Cup. The Parisian especially put his people on the right track in a padlocked first period with only 2 Argentinian shots and only 1 for Australia. Faced with these closed debates, Lionel Scaloni took things in hand tactically. He replaced Papu Gomez with Lisandro Martinez to switch to a central three defense and play more in the corridors with Nahuel Molina and Marcos Acuna (50th).

Crazy endgame

Argentina mainly benefited from an opposing boost with a failed control from Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan against the high pressing of Rodrygo De Paul and an easy break goal for the biting Alvarez (2-0, 57th). Back to the wall, the Australian coach Graham Arnold launched all his attackers and the reaction of his players was rewarded with a reduction in the score finally attributed to Fernandez against his side (2-1, 76th).

Suddenly revived, the meeting went crazy. Behich made a fantastic raid towards the Argentinian surface (81st). Lautaro Martinez answered him but above all missed the target (89th) and stumbled on Ryan (90th + 3, 90th + 4) while Messi aimed badly (90th + 4). Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had the last word against Garang Kuol (90th + 7). Argentina are already doing better than in 2018 by reaching the quarter-finals, but they dream of going much further.