Loud and proud
Lionel Messi, of Argentina, widely considered one of the best players of his generation, reacts after scoring a goal in the World Cup group C match against Mexico in Qatar yesterday. Argentina won 2-0 after dropping their opener to Saudi Arabia last week.
Lionel Messi came up with another crucial goal for Argentina in a 2-0 win over Mexico yesterday that ignited the team’s World Cup chances.
Messi took a touch from Angel Di Maria’s pass across the face of the area and drove a low shot into the bottom corner in the 64th minute.
He ran toward Argentina’s fans with his arms outstretched before getting mobbed by his jubilant team-mates. He looked emotional as he grabbed and shook his jersey, then blew a kiss to the crowd before whirling his arms.
Substitute Enzo Fernandez added a second goal in the 87th minute.
Argentina bounced back from a shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening match. The team is in second place in Group C ahead of its last match against Poland on Thursday and might need to win it to advance.
The 35-year-old Messi is likely playing in his last World Cup, which is the only major title missing from his collection.
It was an eighth World Cup goal for Messi – the same number scored in the tournament by rival Cristiano Ronaldo and also Diego Maradona, the Argentina great with whom he is so often compared.
For some, Messi needs to win the World Cup to join the ranks of Pele and Maradona as football’s greatest ever players. Thanks to this win, it could still happen.
Until his goal, Messi was enduring a frustrating match, finding himself with two defenders on him each time he received the ball.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made five changes from the Saudi Arabia game in a bid to inject some more energy into the team, but they initially made little difference.
The momentum of the game changed completely after Messi’s goal, his 93rd in internationals and his second of the tournament after a penalty against Saudi Arabia.
❏ A moment of Mitch Duke magic has delivered Australia a 1-0 victory over Tunisia and the nation’s third triumph at the World Cup finals.
Duke’s stellar header in yesterday’s clash at Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar raises
Australian hopes of advancing to the knockout phase for only the second time.
The Socceroos, after losing 4-1 to France in their cup opener, bank three precious points after
Duke’s 23rd-minute goal against the Tunisians.
Another positive result against Denmark and the Australians could follow the feat of the fabled 2006 golden
generation in progressing out of the group stage.
And the oft-maligned Duke became just the eighth Socceroo to score at the World Cup.
Tunisia failed to break the
Australian defence and remain on one point from their draw against Denmark in their cup opener.
Finally!
Robert Lewandowski at last scored a goal in a World Cup match yesterday, helping Poland beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 and boosting his team’s chances of reaching the knockout stages. Lewandowski shed tears after scoring in the 82nd minute. He raced toward the corner with his arms outstretched, then stayed slumped on the field as teammates rushed to congratulate him. He got up, rubbed his face, and blew a kiss to the crowd. Arguably one of the best forwards in the world, Lewandowski’s barren streak at the World Cup was somewhat puzzling. Now, after five previous matches at the tournament, it’s over.
Lewandowski also set up the opener in the 40th minute when he kept the ball in play after goalkeeper Mohammed AlOwais’ initial block, then laid it back for Piotr Zielinski to knock in.
Lewandowski also hit the post and Al-owais denied the Barcelona player from scoring another goal late in the match.
Poland will next face Argentina, while Saudi Arabia will meet Mexico in their last Group C games.