Second-half goals from Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez saved Argentina from the verge of elimination with a 2-0 win against Mexican on 27 Sunday, at Lusail stadium, Qatar.
The first half wasn’t very hopeful for Argentina, leaving the fans uncertain about winning the match. Mexico started with 5 defenders so that Argentina’s midfield and the third men couldn’t make any good moves out from the tight spaces in the Mexican half. Mexico in turn raided the Argentine box from time to time and tested Emi Martinez, the trusted GK of Argentina.
Emi, shaking off the perks of the last-match failure against Saudi, stood confidently under the bar for Argentina and did an extra-ordinary save in a full-stretch dive to catch the Vega’s freekick.
It’s been really frustrating for Argentina- in and out of the field- after losing an opening match against Saudi Arabia. That was also reflected in the opening minutes of the game against Mexico. It was in the 64th minute the moment of Argentina came up in the form of a low blow of Messi into Gabriel Ochoa’s post from outside the penalty box. The Argentina skipper, and the magic man in Peter Drury’s words, break free from the tight marking of Mexican defenders and find all the way to glory.
Enzo Fernandez, 21, scored yet another stunner in the 86th minute of the game, after receiving an assist from Messi. Enzo, who came off the bench in the second half slipped in through two Mexican defenders and curled the ball into the top right corner of the net. It was indeed a sight to watch; the youngster’s first goal for Argentina in a world championship.
The victory helps Argentina grab 2nd position in the group c below Poland, whom they are going to face in their next match. “Today another World Cup starts for Argentina,” Messi said after the victory. “I tell people the same thing, that they continue to believe. Today we did what we had to do. We had no other choice. We had to win so we depended only on ourselves.”