Messi scores in vital Argentina win over Mexico

2 years ago 27

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By Phil McNultyChief football writer in Doha

Last updated on 13 minutes ago.From the section World Cup

Lionel Messi produced a moment of trademark magic to help keep Argentina's World Cup hopes alive with victory in a tense encounter against Mexico.

In a cauldron of noise at Lusail Stadium, Messi and Argentina knew defeat would end their hopes of reaching the last 16 after only two games following the stunning loss to Saudi Arabia in their opener.

The tension was mounting as Mexico frustrated Messi in an attritional game, especially in a first half littered with fouls and stoppages that never allowed Argentina to gain any momentum.

Messi changed all that after 64 minutes when he took one touch to control a pass with his left foot before drilling an unerring finish past Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

The masses of Argentina supporters in a crowd of 88,966 went wild in celebration and relief as their World Cup campaign got back on track.

Enzo Fernandez added a superb second with a curling shot into the top corner three minutes from time but it was Messi who made the breakthrough and the difference.

Victory in a tough final Group C game against Poland will send them into the knockout phase.

More to follow.

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Argentina

Squad number23Player nameMartínez
Squad number4Player nameMontiel
Squad number19Player nameOtamendi
Squad number25Player nameMartínez
Squad number8Player nameAcuña
Squad number11Player nameDi María
Squad number7Player nameDe Paul
Squad number18Player nameRodríguez
Squad number20Player nameMac Allister
Squad number10Player nameMessi
Squad number22Player nameMartínez

Squad number9Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number13Player nameRomero
Squad number14Player namePalacios
Squad number24Player nameFernández
Squad number26Player nameMolina

Mexico

Squad number13Player nameOchoa
Squad number26Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number2Player nameAraújo
Squad number3Player nameMontes
Squad number15Player nameMoreno
Squad number23Player nameGallardo
Squad number24Player nameChávez
Squad number16Player nameHerrera
Squad number18Player nameGuardado
Squad number22Player nameLozano
Squad number10Player nameVega

Squad number9Player nameJiménez
Squad number14Player nameGutiérrez
Squad number21Player nameAntuna
Squad number25Player nameAlvarado

Line-ups

Argentina

Formation 4-4-2

23Martínez
4MontielBooked at 43minsSubstituted forMolinaat 63'minutes
19Otamendi
25Martínez
8Acuña
11Di MaríaSubstituted forRomeroat 69'minutes
7De Paul
18RodríguezSubstituted forFernándezat 57'minutes
20Mac AllisterSubstituted forPalaciosat 69'minutes
10Messi
22MartínezSubstituted forÁlvarezat 63'minutes

Substitutes

1Armani
2Foyth
3Tagliafico
5Paredes
6Pezzella
9Álvarez
12Rulli
13Romero
14Palacios
15Correa
16Almada
17Gómez Villaverde
21Dybala
24Fernández
26Molina

Mexico

Formation 5-3-2

13Ochoa
26ÁlvarezSubstituted forJiménezat 66'minutes
2AraújoBooked at 22mins
3Montes
15Moreno
23Gallardo
24Chávez
16HerreraBooked at 66mins
18GuardadoSubstituted forGutiérrezat 42'minutesBooked at 50mins
22LozanoSubstituted forAlvaradoat 73'minutesBooked at 89mins
10VegaSubstituted forAntunaat 66'minutes

Substitutes

1Talavera
4Álvarez
5Vásquez
6Arteaga
7Romo
8Rodríguez
9Jiménez
11Funes Mori
12Cota
14Gutiérrez
17Pineda
19Sánchez
20Martín
21Antuna
25Alvarado

Referee:Daniele Orsato

Attendance:88,966

Live Text

Match ends, Argentina 2, Mexico 0.
Second Half ends, Argentina 2, Mexico 0.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jesús Gallardo (Mexico).
Foul by Lionel Messi (Argentina).
Héctor Moreno (Mexico) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina).
Luis Chávez (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Héctor Moreno (Mexico).
Roberto Alvarado (Mexico) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Roberto Alvarado (Mexico).
Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina).
Luis Chávez (Mexico) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Goal! Argentina 2, Mexico 0. Enzo Fernández (Argentina) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi following a corner.
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Néstor Araújo.
Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Nicolás Otamendi.
Foul by Exequiel Palacios (Argentina).
Uriel Antuna (Mexico) wins a free kick on the right wing.