FIFA WC 2022: Argentina beat Australia 2-1; moves into quarters
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Doha: Argentina made a 2-1 win against Australia, surviving some anxious moments throughout the battle late on Saturday in a FIFA World Cup 2002 Qatar knockout match.
Lionel Messi's squad thus moved into the quarter-finals of the celebrated tournament after he himself scored in the 35th minute here at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium on Saturday.
Australia steps up the pressure in the last ten minutes of normal time and in injury stoppage time, but Argentina survives some key moments to keep their citadel intact and advance into the last eight stages.
After Messi put Argentina into the lead in the 35th minute before halftime, Julian Alvarez upped the lead to 2-0 in the 57th minute.
However, Australia made challenging efforts in the final 20 minutes. An own goal happened from Enzo Fernández's boots in the 77th minute, giving Australia hope.
The first goal came from a set-piece situation. Messi, who took control of the free kick, bent his left-footed try deep, which was cleared by the defence. The ball did not go far and came back to Messi via two colleagues.
Nicolas Otamendi squared the ball for Messi inside the box, with the striker unleashing a perfect grounded-pushing the ball past two Australian defenders and the keeper to make it 1-0 with ten minutes to for the first half whistle.
Argentina scored their second out of a big blunder from Australian keeper Mathew Ryan who made a mess of the backpass. While two strikers were in pursuit, Ryan preferred to dribble his way but lost control, and Alvarez pounced on the loose ball to send the ball to the back of the nets.
Australia, which came with the occasional move, kept themselves in the match with a goal 13 minutes from the final whistle.
Thirteen minutes before the final, Australia's Mody's left-footed drive directed goalwards found Fernandez on the way as it deflected off the Argentina striker and caught Argentina's goalkeeper on the wrong and ended in the back of the nets.
Now, Argentina and The Netherlands will battle in the quarter-finals stage.