Argentina vs Australia Highlights: ARG beat AUS 2-1. (AP photo)FIFA World Cup 2022 Argentina vs Australia Highlights: In his 1000th career appearance, Lionel Messi had his best match of the World Cup so far as Argentina took down Australia 2-1 to book their place in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands next week.
Despite having a two-goal lead, however, the final moments of the game were far nervier than Argentina would have anticipated. Messi’s moment of brilliance came in the 35th minute, after the first third of the game was managed well by Australia.
Lineups: Argentina: E Martinez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna, De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Gomez, Messi, Alvarez; Australia: Ryan, Degenek, Souttar, Rowles, Behich, Leckie, Mooy, Irvine, Baccus, McGree, Duke;
Live Blog
Socceroos fans celebrate a goal scored by Australia as they watch Australia play Denmark in the FIFA World Cup, at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
In his 1000th career appearance, Lionel Messi had his best match of the World Cup so far as Argentina took down Australia 2-1 to book their place in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands next week. Despite having a two-goal lead, however, the final moments of the game were far nervier than Argentina would have anticipated.
Messi’s moment of brilliance came in the 35th minute, after the first third of the game was managed well by Australia. By far the inferior side in terms of talent, the Socceroos did well to curb Argentina’s attacks, letting them continue to dominate possession but slowing down the tempo, leaving little space in between the lines for chance creation. And then the moment came after a flash point. [Read more]
Did Lionel Messi just put up the best individual performance at this World Cup? Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand certainly thinks so.
"Messi has just put on the best individual display we have seen at this World Cup... by a mile," Ferdinand said on BBC post match.
The Socceroos' Jackson Irvine spoke to SBS after the game.
Q. You guys gave it a hell of a shake out there?
Irvine: "Yeah, we gave it everything. Just like we have every minute of this competition. So proud of all the players and the staff. Yeah, just not enough on the day."
Q. You were within a kick of taking that to extra time. How do you feel about the performance on the whole, you went toe to toe with the world number three?
Irvine: "I think we did everything we could. We stood up to be compact and disciplined in our shape. We were excellent defensively we gave up very little until obviously the end. You have to have a go with the last 15 minutes. I think we did everything we could to give ourselves a chance in the game. When Argentina are celebrating like this, a victory against Australia, I think it shows what kind of opposition we gave them today."
Q. This team of yours has captured the heart of the nation, how do you feel being part of a team that’s helping Australian football back on the map?
Irvine: "It’s difficult to comprehend everything at the moment. It’s all quite raw but yeah, I hope we made everyone proud."
And the referee brings the game to an end, finally. Argentina survive a late scare after Australia put one back in, after La Albiceleste couldn't convert a barrage of chances at the other end, after Martinez made a one-v-one BIG save, they survive. Two goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez do the job for them. Australia can be proud of that turnaround after going two goals down. Lionel Messi and Argentina march into the quarterfinals, against Netherlands.
ARG 2-1 AUS
Messi with the ball rushes towards the Australian goal and sets Martinez on the left, who this time takes the shot with his left foot, only to be blocked by Matt Ryan.
ARG 2-1 AUS
The fourth official indicates seven minutes of added time. Can the Socceroos take this to extra time, or do something even more unthinkable? They sure have the time to.
ARG 2-1 AUS
More from Sports
Lionel Messi rushes towards the Argentina goal, cuts in, gets past his two markers and lays the ball off for Martinez on the left right in front of the Matt Ryan, with the goal gaping, but the Inter forward blasts it over the far post. The Argentina captain holds his knees to take a breather, wondering how that went by the way it did. A sensational move, a sensational miss.
ARG 2-1 AUS
Mooy whacks a cross into the penalty area from deep in midfield looking for Maclaren but Emiliano Martinez anticipates the move and meets the ball at the edge of his box.
ARG 2-1 AUS
Australia put one back!
Luck favors the Socceroos as the move originates from the left, an early cross is headed away only to fall into the path of Craig Goodwin, whose volley is deflected off Lisandro Martinez's face into the Argentina goal. Game on!
ARG 2-1 AUS
Jamie Maclaren, Fran Karcic and Garang Kuol replace Milos Degenek, Mitchell Duke and Mathew Leckie. The Socceroos need to put one back in sooner rather than later.
ARG 2-0 AUS
Julián Álvarez, scorer of Argentina's second on the night, comes off to a rousing reception from the largely Argentina fans occupied Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. Lautaro Martínez comes on.
ARG 2-0 AUS
De Paul plays the corner short to Messi, who returns the ball to the Atletico Madrid midfielder as he cuts inside. He sweeps a flat cross into the penalty area but again Souttar is in the right spot to head away the delivery.
ARG 2-0 AUS
The chants grow louder as the Argentina fans are treated with another one of those sublime runs from their captain. Gets into the Australian box with two of the Socceroos defenders backpedalling. Just as he reaches the six yard box, the Argentina skipper is unable to get that final shot. A moment of pure scare for the men in yellow and green, a moment of pure joy for La Albiceleste.
ARG 2-0 AUS
Goodwin is also sent on, with McGree making way.
ARG 2-0 AUS
Matt Ryan is unable to clear/distribute a back pass in time and Julian Alvarez steals the ball off him and puts it into the Australian goal.
A horrible, hprrible moment for the Australia GK, who was closed down supremely quick by Rodrigo de Paul and Alvarez and he's unable to deal with the pressing pressure. Argentina fans sing louder and more comfortable with that two goal cushion.
ARG 2-0 AUS