Messi ratings, Argentina beats Australia 2-1 at Global Cup

With a flourish of his well-known left foot within the thirty fourth minute, Messi put Argentina forward together with his 3rd function at this yr’s match and 9th in overall on the Global Cup — another than Diego Maradona.

Julián Álvarez pounced on a heavy contact via Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to faucet into an empty internet for the second one function as Argentina arrange a gathering with the Netherlands within the quarterfinals.

Australia scored a 77th-minute comfort function when Craig Goodwin’s shot deflected into the online off Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

For Australia’s squad of unheralded avid gamers, it was once a fit too a long way at a Global Cup during which the staff has exceeded expectancies via attaining the knockout level for handiest the second one time. Australia additionally misplaced within the closing 16 in 2006, to eventual champion Italy.

Perhaps it’s an omen for Argentina, which has totally recovered from its surprising loss to Saudi Arabia in its opening staff fit and received 3 immediately video games.

As for Messi, he now has 789 objectives in a profession that would possibly but achieve a crescendo on Dec. 18 via successful the football’s greatest trophy in his 5th and most likely closing Global Cup.