Once again, Lionel Messi messed up Mexico’s hopes of going to the next stage with a 64th minute goal last night.
The goal came as a hard-earned victory the never-say-die Argentines after a stubborn Mexico erected all stops to make sure that the Messi-led Argentina don’t win against them. The game started with both teams showing all intentions to produce their first victory in Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Argentina had suffered a surprise lose to underdogs Saudi Arabia in a 1-2 lose in their opening game in Qatar while Mexico were comfortable with a barren draw in the hands of Poland. In the first game of the group, Poland produced another stunning performance, against giant beaters Saudi Arabia, with two goals to nil. This means that Poland is currently topping group C with 4 points, followed by Argentina’s 3 then Saudi Arabia’s 3, before Mexico comes last with a solitary point.
With a 64th minute goal coming at a time when Mexico had put all roadblocks on Argentina’s way, it was refreshing to the La Albiceleste when Enzo Fernandez wrapped it up with a stunner – in the dying minutes of the game, to seal a hard-fought three points in their second group C game in Qatar.
The victory serves as a reprieve to Lionel Messi,in particular, since this year’s World Cup edition seems to be his last World Cup to play. The former Barcelona skipper has won everything in competitive football – save for FIFA World Cup. Had they suffered another defeat at the hands of the Mexicans, that would have been the end of an illustrious career for Messi.
Argentina last won the FIFA World Cup back in 1986, after their first victory back in 1978. In this year’s tournament, football pundits billed the South American football powerhouse as the potential winners – before they were left shell-shocked by the hardened Saudi Arabia in their opener. But a 64th minute goal by Messi last night would just prove to be the elixir that the current crop of La Albiceleste were waiting for.
