AL RAYYAN, Qatar – Lionel Messi scored his first purpose in a World Cup knockout spherical in his 1,000th match to beat Diego Maradona’s event tally, as Argentina beat off a frenzied Australia fightback to win 2-1 on Saturday and attain the quarterfinals.
Messi his aspect forward after 35 minutes with a coolly taken low strike for his 94th worldwide purpose, passing the good Maradona’s eight World Cup objectives, in a match the place he was instrumental in virtually each Argentine assault.
Julian Alvarez made it two close to the hour mark after pouncing on a howler by keeper Mat Ryan to arrange a mouth-watering last-eight conflict subsequent Friday with the Netherlands, who beat the United States 3-1 earlier within the day.
With nothing to lose, the Socceroos, chasing a primary World Cup quarter-final berth, pulled a purpose again 13 minutes from time when Craig Goodwin’s wayward shot took an enormous deflection off Enzo Fernandez and flew into the online for an personal purpose.
Messi spurned two clear possibilities late on but it surely was Australia’s teenaged substitute Garang Kuol who set hearts racing within the stadium when deep into stoppage time his close-range shot on the flip was brilliantly saved by Emi Martinez.
The Australia bench had their heads of their arms as the ultimate whistle blew moments later, sparking fervent celebrations from the Argentina squad and roars across the packed Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
Man of the match Messi admitted the ultimate moments have been tense.
“Things got complicated in the end with their goal but it’s a World Cup and it’s never easy,” Messi stated.
“Now we have a really tough clash with Holland, who play very well. They have great players and a great coach, it’s going to be hard-fought.
“If a World Cup has been powerful from the beginning, it will get even more durable at this stage.”
Messi magic
Argentina took a while to find their stride in a physical match that started off scrappy, with Alejandro Gomez, Fernandez and Alvarez combining well but unable to break down a resolute defense as Messi struggled to make his mark.
Australia had a chance from a corner when towering defender Harry Souttar leapt high in the area but headed tamely.
Lifted throughout by the overwhelmingly Argentine support, which cheered, sang and bounced in unison from all sides of the stadium, Argentina finally made the breakthrough after 35 minutes with Messi the creator and finisher of a superbly worked goal delivered at breathtaking speed.
He took a free kick then picked out Alexis Mac Allister, who passed to Nicolas Otamendi to tap gently back into the path of Messi, who fired low into the corner and beyond the reach of the outstretched Ryan.
Argentina got their second close to the hour after a huge back-pass blunder from Ryan, who came under pressure from Rodrigo De Paul and was robbed of the ball by Alvarez, who turned and slotted home.
Australia refused to give up and launched a succession of threatening moves that rattled an Argentina side whose attention was focused more on their own attacks.
After Goodwin’s deflected shot went in there was a real prospect of extra time in a stadium where the Socceroos had booked their World Cup place via a penalty shootout win over Peru in an intercontinental playoff earlier this year.
They pushed forward relentlessly and nearly equalized when Aziz Behich darted dangerously into the area before a brilliant saving tackle by Lisandro Martinez.
Argentina tried for a third goal, with Lautaro Martinez firing wide and Messi coming close before Australia substitute Garang Kuol missed with seconds left in stoppage time.
“We took it to them. I felt that we completed off properly. We had an amazing likelihood on the finish there to equalize,” said Australia coach Graham Arnold, who described Messi’s performance as “unimaginable”.
“I’ve acquired to be very, very happy with the boys.”
Argentina defender Nahuel Molina said the win was all about Messi. “It’s a privilege to play with Messi, with him on the pitch we all know that we simply must be affected person as a result of he’s our ace in our sleeves.” —Reuters
