Argentina's Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their second goal with Lionel Messi during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 round of 16 match against Australia at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar, on December 3, 2022. Reuters/Pedro Nunes
Argentina held on to clinch a nervy 2-1 over Australia in the Round of 16 tie of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The two-time champions will now face 2010 finalists, the Netherlands, in what promises to be a thrilling quarter-final on December 9.
Lionel Messi, making his 1000th appearance, scored his 739th goal to put Argentina ahead 35 minutes in before Julian Alvarez scored Argentina’s second just before the hour mark.
Craig Goodwin gave the team from down under hope after his deflected effort found the net, but Argentina held on as Emiliano Martinez made a huge save in added time to ensure the South Americans don’t go home early.
“We have taken another step forward and achieved another objective,” Messi told reporters after the match.
“It was a difficult match, and we didn’t have much time to rest. We were concerned that it would be difficult; they were very strong. Luckily, we found the goals and then we had a setback with the Australian goal, but that’s the World Cup, and these things happen,” he added.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had said his side would break their back to qualify, and they started on the front foot with Papu Gomez attacking, but Polish referee Szymon Marciniak waved off the Sevilla man’s shouts for a handball. Gomez again drifted in from the left but followed up with a wayward effort wide.
After a flurry of Argentine attack, Australia settled into the match, enjoying a brief spell of possession, but Graham Arnold’s side failed to create any concrete chance as Messi scored 10 minutes from halftime against his 129th different team.
Nicolas Otamendi kept the ball alive from a freekick, and his touch found Messi, who, on his preferred left foot, steered the ball into the bottom corner, through traffic past goalkeeper Matt Ryan.
Both sides failed to create any meaningful chances as halftime approached.
Lionel Messi scores Argentina’s first goal. Reuters
In the second half, Argentina were all over the Socceroos, with Messi the apparent threat, but the former Barcelona scuffed a shot straight at Ryan.
Australia were dealt a major blow just before halftime as goalkeeper Matt Ryan gifted Argentina a second goal. Ryan skipped over Rodrigo de Paul after receiving a back pass, but Alvarez was lurking and nicked the ball off him to slot home.
Messi chants filled the air as the Argentine went on his trademark run, beating Australian defenders, but they managed to clear for a corner.
Australia pulled one back out of nothing - 13 minutes from time via a huge deflection. A cross into the box was headed out and found the unmarked Craig Goodwin, whose effort came off Enzo Fernandez, wrongfooting Martinez in goal.
The goal seemed to rejuvenate Australia as Aziz Behich carved open the Argentine defence with a dazzling run, but Lisandro Martinez made a vital block as Behich was about to pull the trigger.
Argentina had chances to seal victory but substitute Lautaro Martinez dragged an effort well wide before blazing aimlessly high from 10 yards out with the goalkeeper at his mercy after Messi found him in space.
Lautaro again could have buried the tie in added time, but Ryan rushed out quickly to thwart the Inter Milan forward. Messi on his left foot curled high before Ryan saved off Lautaro, and Messi couldn’t adjust his feet in time for the rebound.
Martinez ensured victory for La Albiceleste with a big save at the death from Garang Kuol.
“I wanted to win badly for the nation and Australian football. That’s just me; making the Round of 16 wasn’t enough,” Australia coach Graham Arnold said.
