To make matters worse, in the 42nd minute, Mexico’s captain, Andres Guardado, had to be taken off with an injury after playing a pivotal role in the team’s success. So, Guardado had appeared in five World Cups. Messi’s goal against Mexico keeps World Cup hopes alive.
Although the Mexicans created two more opportunities with Alexis Vega before halftime, they would be outmatched after the break. After halftime, the South Americans became more focused, and their captain and talisman rescued them with his second tournament goal. A late goal by Fernandez gave Argentina their first tournament victory. Reigniting Messi’s hopes of becoming the first Argentine player to win the World Cup since Maradona in 1986.
Messi’s goal against Mexico keeps World Cup hopes alive
Lionel Messi scored the opening goal in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Mexico in World Cup Group C on Saturday. Proving he was far from done in the tournament. The 35-year-old Argentine is competing in his fifth World Cup and has never been to the final, but he did make it to the final in 2014.
After suffering a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening match. His 64th-minute strike revived their hopes of advancing out of the group stage. The sublime effort of substitute Enzo Fernandez three minutes from time. After being unseen for over an hour, Messi finally made his presence felt by picking up an Angel Di Maria pass, finding just enough space. Rifling in from 20 meters out to tie Diego Maradona’s Argentina record of 21 matches and eight goals at the World Cup.
Fernandez, who came on as a substitute, sealed the win with a fantastic shot that curled into the top corner. Argentina, currently in third place with three points, will advance to the next round with a victory over Poland. Currently in first place with four points, in Wednesday’s final game.
Statements
“Another World Cup begins for Argentina today,” Messi said. “I keep telling people the same thing, yet they persist in their faith. There was work to be done, and we got it done today. “There was simply no way out of it. We needed a victory to rely solely on our resources.
“We didn’t play as we should in the first half, but once we settled down. we started to play the ball better and, up until the goal. we went back to being who we are,” he said. Thus, for Mexico to continue their streak of qualifying for the round of 16 in each of the last seven World Cups, they will need to beat Saudi Arabia, who currently sits in second place with three points, on Tuesday.
Quite a bit of stress Tensions was high on and off the field as Argentina faced elimination in a rough first half that was energized by the two sets of fans. Also, aside from Luis Chavez’s free kick that went wide of the post for Mexico in the ninth minute. Neither side wanted to commit too many players forward, so chances were scarce.
Thus, due to Mexico’s aggressive pressing, Messi could not find much room to operate in the middle of the field. Plus, Argentina’s attack was toothless aside from a wayward shot by Lautaro Martinez and a miss by Messi.
