Superstar Lionel Messi can continue to dream of his first title in his fifth World Cup appearance. The attacker led Argentina to a 2-1 win over Australia in the last 16 and is now three wins away from triumph.
Lionel Messi put the South American champions ahead against Australia at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in the 35th minute with his first goal of a World Cup in a knockout game. After the break, Julian Alvarez made it 2-0 (57th). A shot by Craig Goodwin (77th), deflected by Enzo Fernandez into his own goal, gave the Australians, who had been harmless and without a chance until then, renewed hope in the final phase.
But it wasn’t enough for the “socceroos” to create a sensation. They have to go home while Argentina meets the Netherlands in the quarter-finals next Friday (12/9/2022, 8:00 p.m.). The “Elftal” had previously won 3-1 against the USA.
Australia makes life difficult for Argentina
For Argentina, it was the expected game of patience from the start. Australia defended very disciplined in a 4-4-2 system, which often turned into a 4-5-1 formation, and cleverly closed the spaces. In addition, the “Socceroos” gained respect in the early stages through one or the other somewhat too robust duel.
Referee Szymon Marciniak (Poland), not wanting to be too harsh, gave Jackson Irvine a yellow card in the 15th minute after Germany legionnaire Marcos Acuna stepped on his foot.
Nothing happens for a long time
It was the referee’s right signal to the Australians, who from then on held back in the one-on-one duels. However, hard duels were initially no longer necessary for them to disturb the rhythm of the “Albiceleste”. The high favorite did not get up to speed and acted without ideas in the forward movement. It almost seemed as if the South Americans were counting on Messi’s genius.
Messi scores out of nowhere
But even the captain was unable to set any accents for 35 minutes in his 1,000 game as a professional footballer, 169 of them in the jersey of Argentina.
But then he impressively demonstrated his exceptional qualities: After a free kick that was initially blocked by the Australians, the ball came through Alexis Mac Allister and Nicolas Otamendi to Messi, who defeated keeper Mathew Ryan with a low shot into the far post.
First World Cup goal in the knockout phase
It was the 35-year-old’s first goal at a World Cup in a knockout game. And the 1:0 was synonymous with the halftime score. After that, nothing of relevance happened in an already uneventful first half.
“Socceroos” keeper Ryan gives Argentina the 2-0
Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni replaced attacker Alejandro Gomez (50′) shortly after the break, who had been in the starting XI for Angel di Maria, who was only on the bench. A defender came in for Gomez in Lisandro Martinez. This exchange suggested that Scaloni now expected far more stormy Australians.
But the “Socceroos” initially stayed true to their wait-and-see approach. And then Mathew Ryan made sure that the underdog went down the losing road for good. After a back pass, the keeper dribbled Rodrigo de Paul and Alvarez and lost the ball to the latter. Alvarez no longer had problems making it 2-0 from the turn.
It was almost tragic that Ryan of all people made this mistake. In the group stage, the 30-year-old held on to wins against Tunisia and Denmark (both 1-0). In addition, he and former Hertha and Ingolstadt player Mathew Leckie replaced ex-professionals Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano as Australian World Cup record players with their tenth World Cup appearances.
Australia hits out of nowhere
After Argentina’s second goal, there was little to no indication that the “Socceroos” would find their way back into the game. Then, out of nowhere, they pulled the ball back when a Goodwin shot from 20 meters out was deflected by Enzo Fernandez and shot past his keeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (left) was unemployed for a long time before he conceded a goal.
Shortly thereafter, Aziz Behich almost turned the game completely upside down. The defender let some Argentinians stand like slalom poles and was unlucky at the end that Lisandro Martinez threw himself in the shot and was able to clear the corner (81′). At the other end, Lautaro Martinez missed the 3-1 goal three times (89′, 90’+2, 90’+3).
Argentina goalkeeper Martinez saves the win in stoppage time
So Australia could continue to hope for the 2:2 and actually still had a huge chance to make it 2:2 through Garang Kuol. Seconds of the final whistle after a cross, the ball fell in front of the 18-year-old’s feet, he shot straight from the turn, but failed at Martinez, who was then duly celebrated by his teammates for his save (90+7).