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Frank Augstein/AP
AL RAYYAN, Qatar — Lionel Messi marked his 1,000th skilled recreation together with his first objective within the knockout stage of a World Cup, main Argentina into the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over Australia on Saturday.
With a flourish of his well-known left foot within the thirty fourth minute, Messi put Argentina forward together with his third objective at this yr’s match and ninth in complete on the World Cup — yet another than Diego Maradona.
Julián Álvarez pounced on a heavy contact by Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to faucet into an empty internet for the second objective as Argentina arrange a gathering with the Netherlands within the quarterfinals.
Australia scored a 77th-minute comfort objective when Craig Goodwin’s shot deflected into the online off Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
For Australia’s squad of unheralded gamers, it was a match too far at a World Cup wherein the crew has exceeded expectations by reaching the knockout stage for less than the second time. Australia additionally misplaced within the final 16 in 2006, to eventual champion Italy.
Perhaps it is an omen for Argentina, which has absolutely recovered from its surprising loss to Saudi Arabia in its opening group match and gained three straight video games.
As for Messi, he now has 789 objectives in a profession which may but attain a crescendo on Dec. 18 by successful the soccer’s greatest trophy in his fifth and certain final World Cup.
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