Argentina sweeps through Australia and into the quarterfinals thanks to Messi’s wizardry

DOHA : Lionel Messi scored his first goal in a world cup knockout match to help Argentina defeat brave Australia 2-1 and advance to the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022.

Messi, the team’s captain and star player, gave Argentina’s 2-1 victory over the Socceroos the early lead.

The star player, who was making his 1000th appearance, scored his 789th goal, his first for Argentina in the world cup knockout rounds, and assisted in setting up a victory that advanced them into the round of eight. This was his first goal in the knockout rounds for any team.

The courageous Australian team, despite being incensed, defied all odds in Qatar by going down fighting and frustrating the potent Messi-led Argentine attack.

Ten minutes before halftime, Messi delivered the outstanding performance that Argentina and coach Lionel Scaloni so desperately needed.

After Alexis Mac Allister fed Nicolas Otamendi for an Argentina free kick while the defender was still in the box, Messi bent the ball left-footed along the ground and into the corner.

However, Australia self-destructed when goalkeeper and captain Mathew Ryan attempted to play out under intense pressure in his box from hard-running Rodrigo De Paul just before the hour mark. Australia desperately needed to attack in the second half.

Alvarez, however, dispossessed Ryan after nipping in, stealing the ball, and spinning to slot into an empty net to extend Argentina’s lead.

With 13 minutes remaining in a match that Messi’s team had mostly controlled, Australia had some luck when replacement Craig Goodwin pounced on an errant clearance and fired a shot that struck Enzo Fernandez and went in.

In the last seconds of extra time, teenager Garang Kuol forced Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez to make a last-ditch save to prevent any additional drama.

Argentina under Messi will now square off against Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands on Saturday in the quarterfinals.