Lionel Messi starred as Argentina progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 2-1 win over Australia.
2022 World Cup
2-1
Match Report
Messi marked the 1,000th senior game of his career with a measured finish for the breakthrough goal late in the first half and Mat Ryan's error allowed Julian Alvarez to double the advantage early in the second.
There were late scares for Argentina after Craig Goodwin's shot deflected in off Enzo Fernandez and it needed a dramatic tackle from Lisandro Martinez and a fine save from Emiliano Martinez for them to hold on.
It was a spirited effort from Graham Arnold's side who can be proud of their tournament but it is Messi and Argentina who will face the Netherlands in the last eight. This is not always a fluent Argentina side but with the little genius in the team they can dream.
Match Events
0' KICK-OFF! Who can win this match?
5' Handball in the box but ref says no penalty!
15' Yellow Card! J. Irvine booked
16' Gomez fires his shot into the sky
34' Lionel Messi scored for Argentina
56' GOAL! Argentina 2-0 Australia (Julián Álvarez)
65' Brilliant Dribble By Messi
76' GOAL! Argentina 2-1 Australia (Craig Goodwin)
81' Lisandro Martínez makes an important clearance
89' How could Lautaro miss such a goal??
91' CLOSE! Messi’s shot wide out
Line-ups
Argentina XI: Messi, Gomez, Otamendi, E. Martinez, Acuna, De Paul, Nahuel Molina, Romero, Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández
Subs: Di Maria, F. Armani, Tagliafico, Gerónimo Rulli, Paredes, Pezzella, Dybala, Correa, G. Rodriguez, Exequiel Palacios, Lautaro, Gonzalo Montiel, Foyth, Martinez, Thiago Almada
Australia XI: A. Behich, M.Leckie, Mooy, Ryan, Mitchell Duke, Degenek, J. Irvine, Souttar, Kye Rowles, Riley McGree, Keanu Baccus
Subs: D. Vuković, Andrew Redmayne, B.Wright, Craig Goodwin, Awer Mabil, J. MacLaren, Ajdin Hrustic, Jason Cummings, Thomas Deng, Fran Karacic, Nathaniel Atkinson, Cammy Devlin, Joel King, Marco Tilio, Garang Kuol