21:41
81′ Argentina defends
Scaloni’s men, with an unprecedented five-man defense, defend themselves against Mexico’s attacks. Nine minutes from the end, Martino’s men tried their best.
21:33
73′ In Mexico outside Lozano
Lozano’s match ends in the 73rd minute. The Napoli striker is replaced by Alvarado.
9.30pm
70′ Molina almost doubles
Dangerous Argentina: Acuna flies to the left and serves Molina, free at the far post; the former Udinese full-back kicked first, but he svirgola: ball over the crossbar.
21:26
66′ Whirlwind of changes
After Messi’s goal Martino revolutionizes Mexico by inserting Antuna and Jimenez for Vega and Alvarez. Argentina responds with Romero and Palacios for Di Maria and Mac Allister. In Mexico meanwhile yellow for Herrera.
21:24
64′ Argentina lead: Messi breaks the deadlock
Argentina breaks the deadlock with Messi: the Argentine number ten controls the ball on the edge of the penalty area and with his left foot he scores past Ochoa
21:22
62′ Scaloni recalls Lautaro Martinez
Double change in Argentina. Outside Lautaro Martinez (in the shade) and Montiel, inside Molina and Alvarez.
21:17
57′ First substitution for Scaloni
Argentina pushes with more conviction than in the first half. Scaloni replaces Guido Rodríguez with Enzo Jeremías Fernández
21:11
51′ Messi wastes the free kick
The Argentinian number ten wastes the free kick, kicking over the crossbar. Goalkeeper Ochoa can breathe a sigh of relief
21:10
50′ Gutierrez booked, dangerous free-kick for Argentina
Messi suddenly lights up: the acceleration of the Argentine forward forces Gutierrez to foul. Orsato extracts the yellow card. Dangerous free-kick for Argentina from the edge of the area
21:05
46′ The second half has begun
No changes during the interval. We start again from the partial of 0-0
8.50pm
50′ Halftime: Argentina-Mexico 0-0
Teams in the locker room at the end of an unexciting first half with very few chances: in the final attempt by Mexico with Vega (ball high over the crossbar) and dangerous cross shot by Mac Allister for Argentina
8.45pm
45′ Orsato assigns 5′ of recovery
It will be played until the 45th minute. The referee Orsato has in fact assigned five minutes of recovery.
20:44
44′ Vega dangerous on a free kick
Danger for the Argentine defense: on the free-kick (following the foul committed by Montiel), Vega kicks with his right foot, going around the barrier. Martinez dives to his right and blocks the ball with a plastic save.
20:43
43′ Montiel booked
Immediately dangerous Gutierrez: the newcomer flies into the Argentine half of the field and is knocked down by Montiel. Orsato gets the yellow card for the second time (after the Mexican Araujo).
8:42 PM
42′ First substitution in Mexico
Martino was forced to make the first substitution: Guardado out due to injury, replaced by Gutierrez.
8.40pm
40′ Lautaro Martinez tries
From a corner kick, the Inter striker made himself dangerous with a treacherous header: the ball was lost on the back.
20:33
33′ First ring from Messi
Messi’s free-kick from the right wing: the Argentine number ten shoots directly on goal. Ochoa clears the ball, Lisandro Martinez pounces on the rebound and commits a foul on the Mexican goalkeeper
8:22 PM
22′ Araujo first yellow card
Bad intervention by the Mexican defender against Acuna. Orsato extracts the first yellow card of the match
8:20 pm
20′ Game blocked
Argentina tries to make the match, but Messi and his teammates have failed to create dangers for the opponent’s defence. Mexico defends itself in order and restarts.
8:10pm
10′ Dangerous Mexico
First chance for Mexico: free-kick from the edge of the area served by Chavez, the ball, after a deflection by Moreno, crosses the whole mirror of the goal. Herrera at the far post does not get very close
20:06
6′ Immediately hot spirits
Orsato immediately had his work cut out to calm the players: a handful of Vega against Montiel unleashed the first tussle on the pitch.
8:00 pm
1′ Kick-off
Mexico, in the green jersey, has won the toss and starts the game. Argentina is lined up with the usual shirt with white and light blue vertical stripes.
19:05
The curiosities of Argentina-Mexico
Argentina have remained unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Mexico in all competitions (W7 D3), following a 1-0 defeat in the 2004 Copa América. Argentina’s run of 13 consecutive World Cup victories against non-European nations, i.e. since the match against Cameroon in 1990
7:00 pm
The official formations
ARGENTINA (4-3-3): E. Martinez; Montiel, L. Martinez, Otamendi, Acuna; DePaul, Rodriguez, McAllister; Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Di Maria. CT: Scalone.
MEXICO (5-3-2): Ochoa; Araujo, Montes, Moreno, Gallardo, Alvarez; Herrera, Chavez, Guardado; Vega, Lozano CT: Martino.
REFEREE: Orsato (Italy)
