Messi wins: Argentina earn first points at 2022 World Cup
After a disastrous match with Saudi Arabia, albicelesta rehabilitated - and not without the help of the great Messi.
The results of the 1st round in group "C" came out discouraging. The Argentines, having taken the lead after Lionel Messi's goal from the penalty spot, in the end sensationally lost to the Saudi Arabia national team - 1:2. The Mexicans shared points with the Poles - 0:0. And if Lewandowski's team could still be satisfied with the result, then the Argentines urgently needed to change something for the upcoming match. If they lost again, the road to the playoffs for albicelesta would be closed.
Changes in the composition before the meeting took place in both teams. And if the Mexicans made one amendment to each of the lines, then Argentina replaced five players at once - almost half of those who enter the field!
But from the first minutes it was impossible to say that the South Americans are superior to their rivals. The Mexicans started quite confidently, but acted extremely tough - more and more often the players of the albicelesta found themselves on the lawn, and rather quickly the chief referee of the meeting, the Italian Orsato, showed the first yellow card.
The Mexicans did not keep up not only behind the actions of the Argentines, but also behind themselves, now and then finding themselves offside. The opponent made up for the lack of dangerous moments in the match. Another foul by the Mexicans almost ended in a goal: Messi threw the wall from a free kick and twisted it under the crossbar, but Ochoa was in place.
In the second half, Argentina seemed to wake up. And if Messi lacked accuracy from free kicks, he opened the scoring from the field. In the 64th minute, the captain of the Argentines hit from outside the penalty area and sent the ball into the bottom corner. Ochoa jumped, but did not reach - 1:0.
The Mexicans had more possession of the ball, but that was where their advantage ended. It seemed that they played better with zeros on the scoreboard, and now, when it's time to save the situation, their approaches to the goal and corners have become less dangerous. Mexico coach Gerardo Martino tried to correct the course of the game by substitutions. But in the end, the replacement of the Argentines worked. At the end of the meeting, Messi received the ball after a corner kick, rolled it into the penalty area for Fernandez, and he sent the ball past all the players right under the crossbar in two touches - 2:0.
But in this group, nothing is clear yet. Poland is leading with four points, and it is with her that Argentina will play in the third round. Saudi Arabia, which has already created one sensation at the World Cup, will clearly want more. Mexico will definitely not be satisfied with a draw with the Saudis, and the Arabs will also need to win - to be sure.
Match protocol
Argentina - Mexico - 2:0 (0:0)
November 26th. Lusail. Lusail Stadium.
Referee - Orsato (Italy).
Argentina: E. Martinez, Montiel (Molina 63), Otamendi, L. Martinez (Alvarez 63), Acuña, de Paul, Rodriguez (Fernandez 57), McAllister (Palacios 69), Messi, Lautaro Martinez, di Maria (Romero, 69).
Mexico: Ochoa, Montes, Araujo, Moreno, Gallardo, Alvarez (Jimenez, 66), Herrera, Guardado (Gutierrez, 43), Chavez, Lozano (Alvarado, 73), Vega (Antuna).
Goals: 1:0 Messi (64), 2:0 Fernandez (87).
Booked: Montinel (43) - Araujo (22), Gutierrez (50), Herrera (67), Alvarado (89).