Lionel Messi produces a moment of magic in his 1,000th career game as Argentina beat Australia to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Messi, 35, was making his 119th appearance for his country and they needed the help of his brilliance to take them through to the next round and a tantalising tie against the Netherlands on Friday.
Argentina had barely threatened in the first half but Paris St-Germain’s Messi stroked in a delightful low finish to spark wild celebrations from their fans.
The South American supporters had been on their feet singing all game and they had further delight when Julian Alvarez punished Mat Ryan’s mistake to double their advantage.
Australia had offered very little but surprisingly pulled one back with 13 minutes remaining when substitute Craig Goodwin’s strike took a huge deflection off Enzo Fernandez.
They could have levelled shortly after through Aziz Behich’s incredible solo run, but his shot was superbly blocked by Lisandro Martinez’s sliding challenge as Argentina edged through.
Relive Argentina’s win over Australia
Magical Messi delivers in milestone match
Australia frustrated Argentina for 35 minutes, sitting deep and compact, allowing no space in behind – Alejandro Gomez’s wild shot that flew way over was the only sniff they had.
But every time Messi got his left boot on the ball there was a buzz of excitement in the stadium, sharp intakes of breath anticipating something special.
And the little magician showcased exactly why he is considered one of the greatest of all time in his landmark game, starting and finishing a move that had blue and white shirts dancing in the stands.
Messi saw a free-kick from the left cleared but Argentina recycled the ball, Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister fizzing a pass into Nicolas Otamendi, who laid it off for Messi to take a touch to set himself before caressing a precise finish into the bottom corner.
Arms outstretched, Messi ran away to celebrate in front of his adoring faithful after converting his ninth World Cup goal – remarkably his first in a knockout-stage match – to move just one behind Gabriel Batistuta’s Argentina record.
A trademark jinking run then came to nothing, but thrilled those watching, who broke out with chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi”.
He could have drawn level – or even surpassed Batistuta – in the second half, but slipped at the vital moment to scuff a shot straight at Ryan and firing another two efforts off target.
The ex-Brighton number one had a moment to forget on his 10th World Cup appearance – the joint most for his country – when he took a heavy touch from a back-pass, allowing Manchester City’s Alvarez to nip in, spin and score into an open net.
Following their group-stage heroics, Australia were looking to spring another surprise and had hope courtesy of Goodwin’s fortuitous strike with 13 minutes remaining.
They could have taken the game to extra time when full-back Behich embarked on a mazy run to beat numerous defenders, but Martinez reacted in the nick of time.
An even better chance fell to the Socceroos in the 97th minute when Garang Kuol brought the ball down in the area but his shot on the turn was well kept out by Emiliano Martinez’s reflex save.
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Argentina
Starting XI
Avg
6.68
6.00
6.46
6.02
6.26
6.45
5.89
7.23
6.69
7.52
5.87
Substitutes
Avg
5.48
5.27
5.30
5.03
6.37
Australia
Starting XI
Avg
5.91
6.94
7.44
6.85
7.08
7.12
6.85
7.19
7.20
6.98
7.02
Substitutes
Avg
6.45
6.33
6.43
7.64
6.90
Line-ups
Argentina
Formation 4-3-3
23Martínez
26Molina13Romero19Otamendi8Acuña
7De Paul24Fernández20Mac Allister
9Álvarez10Messi17Gómez Villaverde
23Martínez26MolinaSubstituted forMontielat 80’minutes13Romero19Otamendi8AcuñaSubstituted forTagliaficoat 72’minutes7De Paul24Fernández20Mac AllisterSubstituted forPalaciosat 80’minutes9ÁlvarezSubstituted forMartínezat 71’minutes10Messi17Gómez VillaverdeSubstituted forMartínezat 50’minutes
Substitutes
1Armani2Foyth3Tagliafico4Montiel5Paredes6Pezzella11Di María12Rulli14Palacios15Correa16Almada18Rodríguez21Dybala22Martínez25Martínez
Australia
Formation 4-4-2
1Ryan
2Degenek19Souttar4Rowles16Behich
7Leckie26Baccus13Mooy14McGree
15Duke22Irvine
1Ryan2DegenekBooked at 38minsSubstituted forKaracicat 72’minutes19Souttar4Rowles16Behich7LeckieSubstituted forKuolat 72’minutes26BaccusSubstituted forHrusticat 58’minutes13Mooy14McGreeSubstituted forGoodwinat 58’minutes15DukeSubstituted forMaclarenat 72’minutes22IrvineBooked at 15mins
Substitutes
3Atkinson5Karacic6Tilio8Wright9Maclaren10Hrustic11Mabil12Redmayne17Devlin18Vukovic20Deng21Kuol23Goodwin24King25Cummings
Live Text
Match ends, Argentina 2, Australia 1.
Second Half ends, Argentina 2, Australia 1.
Attempt saved. Garang Kuol (Australia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Craig Goodwin.
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Attempt saved. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Exequiel Palacios.
Attempt blocked. Exequiel Palacios (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Rodrigo De Paul.
Attempt saved. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Harry Souttar (Australia).
Attempt missed. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi following a fast break.
Attempt missed. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rodrigo De Paul.
Exequiel Palacios (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fran Karacic (Australia).
Offside, Argentina. Exequiel Palacios tries a through ball, but Lionel Messi is caught offside.
Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina).
Ajdin Hrustic (Australia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Ajdin Hrustic (Australia) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Corner, Australia. Conceded by Lisandro Martínez.
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