Match Highlights: Argentina vs Australia — as it happened
Bangladesh's favourite Argentina beats Australia 2-1 to advance to the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Martinez with a fantastic save in the last minute of stoppage time to ensure Argentina's through to the quarter finals. Argentina played dominant with a bit of fortune from Australia making the game nervous for the South Americans towards the end of the game. Here's how it happened:
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. +2:34mins: Another close miss from Marttinez. Messi takes a shot and narrowly misses. Doors are closing in on Australia — they can barely touch the ball. A chaotic one minute and uncountable chances for Argentina all blocked away.
88:54mins: Messi feeds Martinez a delightful pass but Martinez blows it off the far post. Argentina's in for another seven tense minutes. Australia's struggling to find one more chance to peep in that equaliser.
80:14mins: Australia seems to have regained some confidence with that goal. Left-back Behich makes a super run before hitting a close-range shot. Blocked by Martinez. Argentina's somehow found themselves in for a nervy ten minutes. Scaloni's looking agitated.
74:00mins: GOAL! But Australia. Well no one saw that coming. A well-hit volley makes its way to the back of Argentina's net through a hugely fortunate deflection. It's Argentina 2-1 Australia.
72:00mins: Martinez on to replace Alvarez, while Acuna comes off too as Tagliafico is introduced. Three changes for Australia. 11 fouls from Australia so far, and 6 from Argentina. Argentina's grabbed possession since the beginning of the game: sitting at a 63 percent over Australia's 37.
57:00mins: GOAL! Alvarez pounces on the Australian keeper's mistake on high alert and puts the game a fair distance from the Kangaroos. A clean 2-0.
52:51mins: Argentina's poor back-pass leads to chance for Australia. They blow it up over the post.
50:04mins: Messi has a clear sight on goal but scuffs the effort. Argentina's playing back 5 after subbing Gomez and bringing out Lisandro Martinez. Messi and Alvarez are the two up-front.
43:00mins: Tackle by Souttar has Messi rolling around on the floor. Nervy play by Australia near the penalty — seems like they're hoping to make it to half-time without further damage. Argentina trying to apply pressure.
35:00mins: Messi does what he does. Beautifully side-footed into the corner through the Australian defender's legs. Messi opens up the scoresheet. It's Argentina 1-0 Australia. His ninth World Cup goal so far.
34:00mins: Messi takes a free-kick for Argentina. Ball is quickly cleared out.
29:00mins: A scare for Argentina. Souttar wins the header at the backpost. Acuna is fouled
20:00mins: Argentina's holding the ball but not really doing much with it yet. Australia's defense has been easy so far.
10:00mins: Some poor touches from Messi. Alvarez makes a great run in behind, but fails to find the touch to match it. Possession's at a tight 50:50.
4:00mins: Argentina appeals for a penalty. Gomez's cross from the left could've hit a hand, just inside the penalty area. The referee doesn't seem interested though.
0:00mins: Players are out. A tonne of noise from huge crowds of Argentina fans. We knew it was going to be this way. Though a quick shot of the Australian fans show glimpses of "Let's Get Messi" placards.
Messi starts in his 1,000th career game — a must-win if he's to keep his dreams alive.
Line-ups:
Argentina (4-3-3) E Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Alvarez, Messi, Gomez.
Substitutes: Armani, Foyth, Tagliafico, Montiel, Paredes, Pezzella, Di Maria, Rulli, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Rodriguez, Dybala, Lautaro Martinez, Lisandro Martinez.
*Di Maria is on the bench after his injury during the Poland match. Papu Gomez replaces him.*
Australia (4-3-3) Ryan; Degenek, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; Baccus, Mooy, Irvine; Leckie, Duke, McGree.
Substitutes: Atkinson, Karacic, Tilio, Wright, Maclaren, Hrustic, Mabil, Redmayne, Devlin, Vukovic, Deng, Kuol, King, Cummings.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
Till now: Australia, ranked #38 by FIFA, has exceeded expectations in the group stages, placing second in Group D (only finishing behind France due to goal difference) and not conceding a single goal in their last two group stage matches. Argentina, ranked #3, after the first Saudi Arabia loss, have managed a standard comeback to push them through.
P.S. It's technically15 now, as USA is eliminated by Netherlands earlier today. The winner of tonight's match faces Netherlands in the quarter finals.
Pre-match talks:
Though Argentina is undoubtedly the favorites to win tonight, coach Scaloni isn't taking any win for granted. "If you think Australia will be easy you're wrong because they have shown that getting through against tough teams in this World Cup," he said. Scaloni also said Argentina must shed the "favourites" tag going into the contest.
Key stats:
* Argentina have played eight round of 16 matches since the current tournament format was introduced in 1986, losing only to Romania in 1994 and eventual champions France four years ago.
* Including two in Qatar, Argentina forward Leo Messi has scored eight World Cup goals over five tournaments since 2006. None of them have been in knockout matches.
* Australia have played only one previous last 16 match in their six visits to the World Cup, losing 1-0 to Italy courtesy of a controversial penalty in 2006.
* Australia did not concede a goal in their last two group matches in Qatar, their first clean sheets since their maiden trip to the finals in 1974.
History:
* Argentina have played Australia seven times since 1988, winning five, drawing one and losing one. The teams have never met at the World Cup finals but Argentina won a two-legged intercontinental playoff to qualify for the 1994 tournament.
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