Argentina 2 Mexico 0: Messi’s moment of magic and Fernandez strike keep World Cup hopes alive for under-par Argentines
LIONEL MESSI’S brilliant strike revived Argentina’s World Cup hopes.
The legend looked as quiet and as worried as his team-mates until drilling a long-range breakthrough on 64 minutes – before Enzo Fernandez sealed victory with an even better goal.
Three points transformed Argentina’s chances of qualifying for the last 16 after their shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their first group game.
But for long spells they toiled tamely against a Mexico side who, luckily for Messi and Co, had virtually no goal threat.
And the margin of Argentina’s success was flattering, given their flat performance.
They still need to beat unbeaten group leaders Poland to reach the knockout stages – which seems far from certain after their two drab displays so far.
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Nonetheless, Argentina never really looked like losing to defensive-minded Mexico, whose only pressure came late on when 2-0 down.
Messi now has two goals in Qatar, following his penalty opener against the Saudis.
But his body language and all-round display suggested all was not well.
That changed, though, when he found a glimmer of space to rifle a low left-footer into the bottom corner.
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Fernandez then cut in from the left of the area to swerve a right-footer into the far stanchion in the 87th minute.
Messi, 35, now has three goals and three assists in his past four World Cup games.
