By Phil McNultyChief shot writer successful Doha
Last updated connected 8 minutes ago.From the conception World Cup
Lionel Messi produced a infinitesimal of trademark magic to assistance support Argentina's World Cup hopes live with triumph successful a tense brushwood against Mexico.
In a cauldron of sound astatine Lusail Stadium, Messi and Argentina knew decision would extremity their hopes of reaching the past 16 aft lone 2 games pursuing the stunning nonaccomplishment to Saudi Arabia successful their opener.
The hostility was mounting arsenic Mexico frustrated Messi successful an attritional game, particularly successful a archetypal fractional littered with fouls and stoppages that ne'er allowed Argentina to summation immoderate momentum.
Messi changed each that aft 64 minutes erstwhile helium took 1 interaction to power a walk with his near ft earlier drilling an unerring decorativeness past Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa into the bottommost country from 20 yards.
The masses of Argentina supporters successful a assemblage of 88,966 went chaotic successful solemnisation and alleviation arsenic their World Cup run got backmost connected track.
Enzo Fernandez added a superb 2nd with a curling changeable into the apical country 3 minutes from clip but it was Messi who made the breakthrough and the difference.
Victory successful a pugnacious last Goup C crippled against Poland volition nonstop them into the knockout phase.
More to follow.
- Reaction to Argentina's triumph implicit Mexico
- Fifa World Cup: Groups & Schedule
- World Cup TV Coverage guide
How to play
Rate players retired of 10 passim oregon aft the game. The rater volition adjacent 30 minutes aft the last whistle.
Rating scope key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Argentina
Squad number23Player nameMartínez
Squad number4Player nameMontiel
Squad number19Player nameOtamendi
Squad number25Player nameMartínez
Squad number8Player nameAcuña
Squad number11Player nameDi María
Squad number7Player nameDe Paul
Squad number18Player nameRodríguez
Squad number20Player nameMac Allister
Squad number10Player nameMessi
Squad number22Player nameMartínez
Squad number9Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number13Player nameRomero
Squad number14Player namePalacios
Squad number24Player nameFernández
Squad number26Player nameMolina
Mexico
Squad number13Player nameOchoa
Squad number26Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number2Player nameAraújo
Squad number3Player nameMontes
Squad number15Player nameMoreno
Squad number23Player nameGallardo
Squad number24Player nameChávez
Squad number16Player nameHerrera
Squad number18Player nameGuardado
Squad number22Player nameLozano
Squad number10Player nameVega
Squad number9Player nameJiménez
Squad number14Player nameGutiérrez
Squad number21Player nameAntuna
Squad number25Player nameAlvarado
Line-ups
Argentina
Formation 4-4-2
- 23Martínez
- 4MontielBooked astatine 43minsSubstituted forMolinaat 63'minutes
- 19Otamendi
- 25Martínez
- 8Acuña
- 11Di MaríaSubstituted forRomeroat 69'minutes
- 7De Paul
- 18RodríguezSubstituted forFernándezat 57'minutes
- 20Mac AllisterSubstituted forPalaciosat 69'minutes
- 10Messi
- 22MartínezSubstituted forÁlvarezat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Armani
- 2Foyth
- 3Tagliafico
- 5Paredes
- 6Pezzella
- 9Álvarez
- 12Rulli
- 13Romero
- 14Palacios
- 15Correa
- 16Almada
- 17Gómez Villaverde
- 21Dybala
- 24Fernández
- 26Molina
Mexico
Formation 5-3-2
- 13Ochoa
- 26ÁlvarezSubstituted forJiménezat 66'minutes
- 2AraújoBooked astatine 22mins
- 3Montes
- 15Moreno
- 23Gallardo
- 24Chávez
- 16HerreraBooked astatine 66mins
- 18GuardadoSubstituted forGutiérrezat 42'minutesBooked astatine 50mins
- 22LozanoSubstituted forAlvaradoat 73'minutesBooked astatine 89mins
- 10VegaSubstituted forAntunaat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Talavera
- 4Álvarez
- 5Vásquez
- 6Arteaga
- 7Romo
- 8Rodríguez
- 9Jiménez
- 11Funes Mori
- 12Cota
- 14Gutiérrez
- 17Pineda
- 19Sánchez
- 20Martín
- 21Antuna
- 25Alvarado
Referee:Daniele Orsato
Attendance:88,966
Live Text
Match ends, Argentina 2, Mexico 0.
Second Half ends, Argentina 2, Mexico 0.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a escaped footwear successful the antiaircraft half.
Foul by Jesús Gallardo (Mexico).
Foul by Lionel Messi (Argentina).
Héctor Moreno (Mexico) wins a escaped footwear successful the antiaircraft half.
Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina).
Luis Chávez (Mexico) wins a escaped footwear successful the attacking half.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a escaped footwear connected the close wing.
Foul by Héctor Moreno (Mexico).
Roberto Alvarado (Mexico) is shown the yellowish paper for a atrocious foul.
Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) wins a escaped footwear successful the antiaircraft half.
Foul by Roberto Alvarado (Mexico).
Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina).
Luis Chávez (Mexico) wins a escaped footwear connected the close wing.
Goal! Argentina 2, Mexico 0. Enzo Fernández (Argentina) close footed changeable from the near broadside of the container to the apical close corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi pursuing a corner.
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Néstor Araújo.
Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Nicolás Otamendi.
Foul by Exequiel Palacios (Argentina).
Uriel Antuna (Mexico) wins a escaped footwear connected the close wing.
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