DPA/FIFA
Doha
Lionel Messi celebrated his 1,000th game as a professional footballer by scoring the opening goal in Argentina’s 2-1 victory against Australia in the World Cup last 16 on Saturday.
Stubborn Australia had not given Argentina any space before being beaten by the genius of Messi; and Julian Alvarez got the second in the 57th after a howler from Socceroos goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
But Argentina had to sweat it out after a shot from substitute Craig Goodwin in the 77th took a huge deflection off Enzo Fernandez to go in.
The victory earned Argentina a quarter-final date on Friday against the Netherlands, who beat the US 3-1 in the day’s other last 16 game.
It will be their sixth World Cup meeting, including Argentina winning the 1978 final 3-1, losing the 1998 quarter-final 2-1, and winning the 2014 semi-final 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 deadlock.
“We had the game under control and could have scored another one. We were almost punished for it in the last minute. There were a few scary moments but we made it through,” said Messi, who hopes to finally win the World Cup in his fifth and final attempt.
“It wasn’t easy but I am very happy that we are through. We have to play every three days but were looking forward to playing in front of our fans. We have to continue standing together as a team.” Australia forward Mathew Leckie said: “It hurts.
“We came into the game to win. We had many chances and kept ourselves in the game. We saw that we are competitive, have a good fighting and team spirit.”
It was a combine of experience and youth combined that saw Argentina prevail over Australia as Messi cannily broke the deadlock and Julian Alvarez double the lead before the hour.
The Socceroos nonetheless gripped on to their towel. From one assault on the Albiceleste goal, Craig Goodwin’s fierce hit took a huge deflection off Enzo Fernandez and halved the deficit. From another, Aziz Behich threatened to score a goal of the tournament contender.
That proved the Aussies’ last shot. They return Down Under having done themselves proud. The Argentinians, deserved winners overall, look ahead to a mouth-watering clash with the Netherlands.
Both sides made one change from last group game, with Alejandro Gomez taking the place of not fully fit Angel di Maria as Argentina forward, and Australia having midfielder Keanu Baccus in for forward Goodwin.
Two-time champions Argentina dominated possession from the kick-off but there was no opening and Gomez fired over in the 17th after cutting in from the left after a long diagonal pass fromMessi.
Messi briefly lost his temper against Aziz Behich in the 34th but one minute later the Argentina talisman opened the scoring with his third goal of the tournament which sent the large Argentine contingent in the stadium into a frenzy.
Messi played the ball back from the right to Alexis Mac Allister, who fed it into the penalty area to Nicolas Otamendi. He laid it into the path of Messi who had run into the centre and slotted the ball into the far left corner past Ryan.
It got worse for Australia in the 57th when Ryan failed to clear away a back pass, under pressure from Rodrigo de Paul, was dispossessed by Alvarez, and the Manchester City forward slotted into the empty net.
Argentina were in full command now but Goodwin’s freak goal in the 77th set up a dramatic finale. His speculative drive would have gone far off target but the deflection off Martinez saw the ball roll into the far right corner.
That set up a frenetic finale, with Behich’s Messi-like solo past several defenders stopped at the last instance by Lisandro Martinez, Lautaro Martinez wasting three big chances to wrap up matters, and Martinez then denying Kuol from close range with his left arm.Key moment
Australia were defending infallibly. Argentina hadn’t created anything. Then Messi decided enough was enough. He was involved in the build-up before collecting Nicolas Otamendi’s lay-off and squeezing the ball into the bottom corner.
