MESSI-INSPIRED ARGENTINA BEAT MEXICO TO STAY ALIVE
A LIONEL MESSI-fired and inspired Argentina kept themselves alive in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with a resounding 2-0 win over Mexico at the Lusail Stadium on Saturday night.
After a shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening match, a defeat would have meant Argentina saying goodbye to the competition before the knock-out stages.
But, in a game in which both sides lacked goal chances and when none of the teams looked close to scoring, top star Messi came up with a spark of brilliance. The seventime Ballon d’Or winner broke the deadlock in the 64th minute after receiving the ball from Angel Di Maria outside the box and unleashing a powerful strike.
It was a very difficult game, Mexico played well. In the second half, we returned to our form, we played like Argentina. We’ve made it and that’s what matters. We can’t give up now, we have only finals ahead. Lionel Messi
It was then Messi who took the corner-kick that ended up with Enzo Fernandez, who curled his effort into the top corner for a stunning goal in the 87th.
Messi now has as many World Cup goals as Argentina great Diego Maradona, with eight, and only Gabriel Batistuta (10) scored more for the Albiceleste at the competition.
“It was a very difficult game, Mexico played well,” Messi told FIFA after the game.
“In the second half, we returned to our form, we played like Argentina. We’ve made it and that’s what matters.”
Ahead of the crucial game, Argentina players asked fans to
trust them and Messi said that “against Poland, they have to trust us again. We can’t make any mistakes.”
“We can’t give up now, we have only finals ahead,” he said.
The first half saw a combined total of only four efforts on goal and the first one came from Mexico in the ninth minute. Andres Guardado whipped a free-kick and Cesar Montes flicked the ball wide of the back post. On the brink of half-time, Alexis Vegas took a flawless free-kick, but Argentina keeper
Emiliano Martinez made a superb defence.
The second half didn’t bring any offensive improvements, but when none of the teams looked close to scoring, Messi produced a moment of magic to make the breakthrough.
With one touch, he controlled the ball he received from Di Maria, and with the second, he delivered a mighty shot with his left foot, giving Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa no chance.
Mexico were not able to be a real threat for the equalizer, and Fernandez sealed the win for Argentina by picking up Messi’s corner, leaving a couple of defenders behind and netting a stunner.