Argentina, one of the great candidates for the title, beat Australia 2-1 on Saturday with a brilliant performance by Lionel Messi and became the second classified to the quarterfinals of the World Cup, where they will face the Netherlands.
Messi scored the opening goal and reached his third goal in the competition in the 1,000th game of his outstanding career, as he searches for the only trophy he lacks.
In the match played at the Áhmad bin Ali stadium in front of 45,000 fans, Argentina seized the ball from the start, but were slow to find a way to break the resistance of an opponent with their lines close together and well grouped.
Australia also bet on a physical game and strong leg to stop the talent of Messi, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez.
The key that opened the game was found by Messi at minute 35 through a low and cornered shot that passed between several Australian legs to beat the goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, after a pass behind Nicolás Otamendi.
From the advantage, Argentina had more space in the second half due to Australia’s need to seek equality, while Messi delighted the fans with several dribbles and led his team to the quarterfinals.
The second goal reached 56 through Julián Álvarez, after pressure in conjunction with Rodrigo DePaul about the goalkeeper who caused an error in the start from the goal.
Australia had some luck to discount in the 76th minute thanks to a shot from Craig Goodwin that went wide, but on the way it hit Fernández and dislodged the goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
In the midst of the nervousness due to the discount of the Australian team, Lautaro Martinez he missed several clear opportunities in front of the goal, both after good previous plays by Messi.
In the last minute, Emiliano Martínez avoided Australia’s equalizer with a save on Garang Kuol.
Argentina will face the Netherlands on Friday at the Lusail stadium, in a repeat of the clash in the semifinal of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with an albiceleste victory on penalties.
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