FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi, Julain Alvarez take Argentina through to quarters after 2-1 win vs Australia

A glimpse of Lionel Messi magic once again became the point of difference for Argentina as the South American side went through to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022 by defeating Australia 2-1 on Saturday evening at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

The 35-year-old wizard put up his best display in the tournament, taking multiple Australian players together, like he used to in the very prime of his career. The mercurial forward used all his experience and his understanding of tight spaces to break the deadlock in the 35th minute of the game.

The goal came at a point when Argentina vs Australia had faded into a mid-field batte with both teams struggling to take control of the ball. Messi saw an opportunity in the chaos and proceeded to drift towards the right side of the pitch.

Messi passed the ball into Mac Allister in the centre – just outside the penalty box, who then played a forward pass to Otamendi in the box. Otamendi teed off the ball to Messi who had changed direction and came into the box. Messi in his vintage self, took a sublime curling effort, which went through the bodies of three Australian shirts surrounding him and got deposited at the far side of the net.

With the goal, Argentina took momentum in their own hands going into the half time break.

Australia knew that they needed a strong response in the second half and they did very well, showing incredible amount of energy. The players ran in unison, tried to cover as much space they can and as quickly as they can, but things just did not happen for them.

As it happens in most Argentina matches in the recent times, the South American side showed good control on the ball, and whenever they lost possession, ran like a madmen to get the ball back.

Argentina’s second goal on the night was result of such doggedness, where Rodrigo de Paul and Julian Alvarez combined in the 57th minute. De Paul pressed hard against Australian goalkeeper Matt Ryan, whose one millisecond delay in passing the ball led to Julian Alvarez stealing it from his feet.

Alvarez’s arrival was not seen from the keeper who was busy dodging de Paul and the Argentina number 9 slotted in a cool finish to take Argentina two goals clear.

From their Australia tried hard to get a goal back and they did, off a deflected shot that beat Emi Martinez on the goal. The own goal gave Australia belief that they still had some say in the game, and they hit back again and again. The team took 5 shots in the second half, and came close to taking a shot numerous times, but the ever dependable Martinez kept the shots away.

In the final 15 minutes of the match, Lionel Messi sprung to life once again and took on the tiring and frustrated defenders of the Australian side. Several times, Messi set up his teammates, especially Lautaro Martinez with brilliant opportunities to score, but the players failed to convert and bury the game in the final minutes of the match.

Messi fired the afterburners after the repeated misses and took matter into his own hands, shooting himself, though failing to find the net each time. On the day, Messi took 6 shots off Argentina’s 14, won four out of six attempted ground duels and created 2 big chances in the game.

After the match, Messi said that in the post match interaction the game was physical and these tough matches bring the Argentine team closer.

Argentina will face Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the competition