today 21:57
|
Footballers from Argentina became the second quarterfinalists of the World Cup in Qatar. In Saturday’s round of 16 match, they beat Australia 2:1 with goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez.
You can watch Argentina – Australia match ONLINE at Šport.sk >>
The Australians were reduced in the 77th minute after an own goal from Enzo Fernandez, but failed to equalise. The Argentines will face the Dutch, who beat the USA 3-1, in the semi-final on Friday 9 December.
It was Argentina captain Messi’s 1,000th competitive match in his career, scoring his 789th goal and his first ever in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16:
Argentina – Australia 2:1 (1:0)
Targets: 35. Messi, 57. Alvarez – 77. E. Fernandez (vl.)
ZK: Irvine, Degenek. Judges: Marciniak – Sokolnicki, Listkiewicz (all of Poland), 45,032 spectators.
Assemblies:
Argentina: E. Martinez – Molina (80. Montiel), Otamendi, Romero, Acuna (71. Tagliafico) – Fernandez – De Paul, Mac Allister (80. Palacios) – Alvarez (71. Lis. Martinez), Messi, Papu Gomez (50 Laut. Martinez)
Australia: Ryan – Degenek (72. Karacic), Souttar, Rowles, Behich – Leckie (72. Kuol), Baccus (58. Hrustic), Mooy, McGree (58. Goodwin) – Duke (72. McLaren), Irvine
Argentina were the favorites of the match and tried to confirm it in the first half. However, the Australians did not allow their opponent to outnumber them and were alert for individual mistakes. Their hints of a counterattack often ended in the bud and rather waited for the opponent’s mistake. They didn’t get it in the first half, on the contrary, they conceded in the 35th minute. The Argentines played a fast offensive action, in which Otamendi pushed the ball to Messi and fired a cross from inside the penalty area at goalkeeper Ryan – 1:0.
The narrow advantage gave confidence to Argentina, who also at the beginning of the second half tried to dictate the game. Australia’s hopes of a surprise dimmed significantly in the 57th minute. Argentina paid to challenge the opponent’s game with two players, and Alvarez punished goalkeeper Ryan’s risky pass – 2:0. In the 65th minute, Messi arrived at an impressive individual action, in which he faced several players, but he was unable to finish accurately. The Australians did not take offensive action and the opponent often threatened them with counter-attacks. In the 76th minute, however, they had a rare chance and Enzo Fernandez’s shot unfortunately went into the net by Goodwin – 2:1. The Aussies showed up but had to take more and more risks as time went on. Their defender Behich showed up in one-on-one play in the 81st minute, in which he wasn’t stopped by four players, but Lisandro Martinez scored his finish. Argentina could have added goal insurance several times, but Lautaro Martinez missed several chances. Kuol did not equalize at 2: 2 in the seventh minute of stoppage time, when he did not surprise goalkeeper Martinez with a spin in the penalty area.
