Argentina – Australia. Dominating for 70 minutes, the Albiceleste was scared until the end against a combative Australian team but finally qualified for the quarter-finals where they will find the Netherlands. Author of the opener, Messi was once again decisive.
22:20 – Messi: “We suffered”
“We thought the game was over and there was an unexpected goal, that big chance at the end… We suffered until the last second but the most important thing is that we got through. It was very difficult We were tired because we didn’t have much time to recover.”, explained Lionel Messi, author of the first goal. The Argentinian captain wanted to greet the many Argentinian supporters who wore them throughout the match against the Australians.
22:10 – Argentinian Communion
More than 10 minutes after the end of the match, the Argentinian fever does not fall in the bays of Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The Argentinian players have formed a chain and commune with their audience, which sings louder. What a fantastic atmosphere.
22:02 – Received 6/8
By dominating Australia (2-1), Argentina qualifies for the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Since the competition has been played in this format with the round of 16, the Albiceleste have passed the milestone 6 times in 8 attempts. The last time she had crossed the 8th was in 2014 and she had pushed to the final.
21:57 – The match Argentina – Australia is over (2-1)
In an unbreathable end to the match, Argentina is doing well and validates its qualification for the quarter-finals of the World Cup (2-1). In control for 70 minutes and put into orbit by goals from Messi and Alvarez, the Albiceleste played to scare themselves by letting the Australians close the gap on a blocked strike from Goodwin, before failing to make the break at new. The Socceroos gave everything until the last second and this boiling opportunity from Kuol but without success in the end.
21:56 – Martinez decisive at close range!
What a fright for the Argentines in these last seconds. On a final Australian offensive where the Albiceleste defenders failed to clear, Goodwin crosses into the box. The ball reaches Kuol at the far post who leans on Tagliafico before turning around and hitting hard in the closed. Martinez springs from his goal and extends his arms. The ball hits his left arm. Decisive stop by the Argentinian goalkeeper.
21:54 – The third goal is refused
The Argentinians are forcing in added time to score this third goal. Messi strikes from the right side. After a blocked strike, he combines in one-two to find Lautaro Martinez in the box on the left. His shot is pushed back by Ryan at the feet of Messi who fails to frame.
21:53 – The frame slips away for Messi
Messi wants to close the mark. Right side, he goes on his left foot and rolls up, in front of two Australians, a marvel of ball which comes to lick the square on the left.
21:51 – Lautaro Martinez in check
In the area, Lautaro Martinez finds himself in a duel with Ryan but his powerful low shot is stopped by the Australian goalkeeper.
21:50 – Additional time: 7 minutes
There will be seven minutes of additional time in this round of 16 World Cup between Argentina and Australia.
21:48 – Lautaro Martinez holes himself
Messi once again leads the Argentine attack and comes level with the box from the right angle. The captain of the Albiceleste transplanted inside, temporized to fix three defenders before opening on the left on Lautaro Martinez, left alone. The interist attacker controls and wants to roll up the opposite but his shot escapes him completely and goes wide to the right.
21:47 – Lautaro Martinez misses his shot
After a long possession streak and stomping on the right with De Paul, Messi finds a gap with his outside right to serve Lautaro Martinez in the box. The Inter Milan striker crosses his attempt too much that Tagliafico cannot resume on the opposite side.
21:40 – Two changes for Argentina
10 minutes from the end of the match, Scaloni brings fresh blood to his team by sending Palacios and Montiel to the field to relay Mac Allister and Molina.
21:39 – Behich’s crazy breakthrough
From the left side, Behich launches into a mad dash. He passes between two Argentinians to penetrate the surface. On the heels, he manages to hook Otamendi and strike but the well-felt tackle from Lisandro Martinez saves the Argentine house. Corner.
21:36 – Argentina shakes
So serene before the reduction of the gap, Argentina appears feverish in these last minutes and let the Australians be dangerous. We feel a lot of tension in this end of the match.
21:35 – Fernandez against his camp, Australia revived (2-1)!
77ᵉ. Craig Goodwin has just reduced the gap in the 77th minute of play in this 2nd half! On a harmless cross, the ball is returned to the feet of the player who opened the scoring against France. Without asking any questions, he resumes in a half-volley. His shot is completely missed but Fernandez blocks it and deflects it into his goal, taking Martinez on the wrong foot. Australia are within one goal with 13 minutes remaining in regulation time.
21:35 – Tagliafico crosses too much
When the ball fell 30 meters from the Australian goal, Lautaro Martinez managed to direct the game to the left on Tagliafico before Irvine challenged him. The OL side strikes but crosses his attempt from the left too much.
21:30 – Five changes at once
In the 71st minute, the two coaches agree to make five changes. On the Argentinian side, Alvarez comes out to a standing ovation replaced by Lautaro Martinez. Acuna also comes out for Tagliafico. In the Aussies, Duke, Leckie and Degenek come out for McLaren, Kuol and Karacic.
21:27 – A questionable foul
The Argentinians unroll and on a long ball, Acuna passes in front of Degenek to receive it. Taken in speed, the Australian falls taken by his momentum. The referee considers that it is a fault of the Argentinian who spun towards the surface and the goal then.
21:26 – Messi strikes above
Messi is starting to show more and more around the Australian surface. After yet another outside hook, the Argentinian captain unleashes a breakaway shot. It’s poorly balanced and the ball flies over the opposing goal.
21:24 – Messi’s rush
Messi is served in the central circle and then decides to speed up the tempo. He obliterates three opponents and approaches the surface. There, at 25 meters, he hooks Suttar before having an unfavorable counter. Alvarez is in support and recovers before putting in front of him in the box to his captain who eliminates Suttar again before Degenek in two stages takes the ball away from him and puts it for a corner.
21:22 – Molina releases Argentina
After a badly negotiated free kick shot too far at the far post but saved by Leckie, the ball remained Australian and returned to the left where Behich attempted a volley cross. Molina is on the trajectory and clears his camp.
21:18 – Alvarez chains the goals
In his last 6 games with Argentina, Julian Alvarez has scored four goals, including two in this 2022 World Cup in Qatar. A great success for the young 22-year-old striker who is becoming more and more indispensable in the Albiceleste system.
21:15 – Second goal for Argentina (2-0)!
Argentina double their gap at the Ahmid bin Ali Stadium! A second goal scored by Julian Alvarez in the 57th minute. On a hand raise from Ryan on the left, De Paul triggers the pressing on Behich who replays behind. The Argentinian midfielder continues his effort, forces Suttar to play with Ryan again before going to harass the doorman. The latter cannot free himself and Alvarez takes advantage of this by foxing the surfaces to exploit the loss of the ball. The break is made for Argentina (2-0).
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???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/C4s28ZMe3F— Selection Argentina ???????? (@Argentina) December 3, 2022
21:14 – Ryan header past Messi
The Australians run after the ball and expose themselves behind their backs. On a long clearance from Martinez, the Australian central axis is badly replaced. Messi accelerates in contact with Suttar. He eyed the ball finally taken from the head by Ryan, out in front of the danger 23 meters from his goal.
21:12 – Otamendi scares himself
The Argentinians have been playing with fire since returning from the locker room. Otamendi feigns a raise to his left and pivots to give back. His pass is very short and Duke struggles to try to recover the ball. It takes the good reactivity of Martinez to get out of his goal and clear his camp.