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World Cup Rewind: Messi leads Argentina past Mexico, and more

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The pressure was on Lionel Messi and Argentina to rebound from Tuesday’s shocking loss to Saudi Arabia and the Conmebol representatives did just that against Mexico on Saturday.

Messi scored the go-ahead goal for Argentina before assisting on Enzo Fernandez’s insurance strike in a 2-0 Group C victory over El Tri. Argentina moved to second place in Group C heading into a final group stage showdown with Poland.

Both teams struggled in front of goal for the opening 60 minutes of the match, but Messi would call his own number to help deliver the go-ahead goal. Messi picked up a pass from Angel Di Maria from 25 yards out before hitting a low, left-footed drive into the bottom-right corner past Guillermo Ochoa.

It was Messi’s second goal of the tournament.

With Mexico pushing for a tying goal, it was Argentina who celebrated three points as Fernandez delivered the insurance strike. Fernandez received a pass from Messi following a short corner routing before striking into the top corner of Ochoa’s net.

Emi Martinez made one save to earn his first World Cup clean sheet as Argentina moved one step closer to advancing into the Round of 16.

Mexico sits bottom of the group needing a victory against Saudi Arabia to have any chance of staying in Qatar. Argentina faces off with Poland, sitting one point back of Robert Lewandowski and his Polish teammates.

Here is a closer look at all of Saturday’s World Cup action:


France 2, Denmark 1

(Kylian Mbappe 61′, 86′) – (Andreas Christensen 68′)


France clinched its spot into the Round of 16 on Saturday with Kylian Mbappe playing the hero for Didier Deschamps’ squad against Denmark.

Mbappe scored twice including the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the Danes, sealing France the top spot in Group D. Hugo Lloris made one save for France.

Kasper Schmeichel kept the sides level in the first half after repelling Adrien Rabiot’s header in the 22nd minute. Mbappe had a great chance to break the deadlock before halftime but skied his effort in the box over the crossbar.

The PSG star did not miss though in the 61st minute, using Theo Hernandez’s decoy on the left wing to send a tricky shot past Schmeichel. However, Denmark needed only seven minutes to tie things up as Andreas Christensen finished off Joachim Andersen’s pass in the box with a powerful header.

Mbappe would play the hero for France though in the 86th minute as the 21-year-old finished Antoine Griezmann’s cross for a 2-1 victory.

Denmark sits in third place and will face Australia on Wednesday knowing a victory would clinch them a Round of 16 berth. France takes on last place Tunisia with top spot already guaranteed.


Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0

(Piotr ZieliÅ„ski 39′, Robert Lewandowski 82′)


Poland captured its first victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Saturday with Robert Lewandowski celebrating his first goal in the tournament.

Piotr Zieliński opened the scoring six minutes before halftime before Lewandowski iced the victory in the 82nd minute. Wojciech Szczesny made five saves to preserve the clean sheet for Poland.

Both teams had golden opportunity to grab an early lead, but were unable to score. Szczesny made a fine save in the 14th minute to deny Saudi Arabia a shocking lead before Krystian Bielik’s header in the 26th minute was cleared off the goal-line.

Lewandowski helped set up the opening goal for Poland, picking out Zielinski who confidently drilled a shot into the back of the net.

Szczesny was called into action before halftime as the Juventus goalkeeper denied Salem Al-Dawsari from the penalty spot. Bielik was whistled for a foul in the box, but Al-Dawsari nor Mohammed Al-Breik’s follow-up chance.

Saudi Arabia did its best to earn an equalizing goal in the second half but ended up conceding a second tally which ultimately handed Poland the victory. Abdulelah Al-Malki failed to get the ball out from under his feet, allowing Lewandowski the chance to steal possession and capitalizing with an insurance goal.

Poland will face Argentina on Wednesday while Saudi Arabia takes on Mexico.


Tunisia 0, Australia 1

(Mitchell Duke 23′)


Australia stayed alive in Group D play on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Tunisia.

Mitchell Duke’s first-half headed goal paired with Mathew Ryan’s four-save shutout kept the Socceroos alive heading into their final group stage match on Wednesday.

Duke delivered the lone goal of the match in the 23rd minute, benefitting from a deflection in the box to score. Craig Goodwin’s cross from the left wing hung around in the box and Duke made no mistake to punish the Tunisian defense.

Mohamed Dräger came close to tying things up for Tunisia before halftime, but Harry Souttar’s key block kept Australia in front 1-0.

Youssef Msakni was denied twice in quick succession in the 72nd minute, forcing Ryan to punch away his first effort before the veteran shot-stopper caught the follow-up chance.

Australia would hang on for its first victory and shutout of the tournament, setting up a Wednesday showdown with Denmark. Tunisia faces France on the same day.

Comments

  1. – Mexico has gone 180 minutes without a goal, and from the looks of it, could play another 120 minutes and still not score. No knockout round this time. Argentina will probably take care of business against Poland as expected.
    – Imagine if France had Konte, Pogba and Benzema healthy. Just a string, deep team with no glaring weaknesses.

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  2. Thanks loads, Mexico. Thanks to their loss to Argentina, Mexico not only likely won’t even get out of Group, it also probably means Argentina almost certainly wins Group C unless Poland’s dig-a-trench-level low block somehow keeps the Argentines out (it won’t) or Lewandowski can somehow come down with one of those moonballs the other ten guys the Poles pile behind the ball send up for him to go fetch and then take on the entire other team on his lonesome. I mean, Lewandowski is really good and all, but that’s a tall order even for him against Argentina.

    That does not thrill me. Even if we beat Iran we’ll still likely finish second in Group B and face the winner of Group A – almost certainly the Dutch, since they’re already top of Group A and have yet to face Qatar – who I think we can beat if we have a heckuva game, but our reward for that is we get the 1C/2D winner.

    So 1C is likely going to be Argentina unless Poland gets its Christmas Miracle early. 2D is Australia right now and all they have to do to keep that spot is pull off a draw with Denmark, who has been very unimpressive their first two games. I don’t exactly see the Aussies slowing Argentina down.

    Would love to see Poland or at worst Denmark instead of Argentina if we do get past Iran and the Netherlands because it gives us an at least half-attainable path to the semis. (Where we will then likely face Spain or Brazil. And hey…I remember the Confederations Cup in 2009. Weird stuff happens.)

    I genuinely like the way our team has played three of its first four halves, but asking them to beat Iran, Netherlands, and then Argentina in succession might be a bit much.

    So again, gracias, Mexico. Always there for us when we need you. Just like that last night of qualifying in 2017.

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