Lionel Messi missed a first-half penalty kick. his 30th career miss, but Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez scored in a 2-0 victory over Poland at Stadium 974 on Wednesday in Qatar.
The result however ensured that both teams booked their places in the knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina’s victory moved Lionel Scaloni’s side to the top of Group C and they will face Australia in the last-16.
Second-placed Poland, who qualified on goals difference after Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1, will take on reigning champions France.
Argentina took the lead just one minute into the second half when Mac Allister got on the end of Nahuel Molina’s cross.
In spite of making weak contact, he saw his shot creep over the line with Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny beaten.
The goal was just a reward for Argentina who had dominated possession while Poland had barely managed to get out of their own half.
The South American side’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was a mere spectator for the majority of the game.
The second goal was the result of some patient build-up, where Argentina knocked the ball around before Enzo Fernandez unlocked the defence with a through-ball for Alvarez.
He found space in the penalty box and smashed the ball into the top corner.
Earlier, Poland were up in arms when Argentina were awarded a controversial penalty kick after a VAR check for a foul on Messi.
That was when Szczesny’s glove brushed his face as the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward rose up for a header at the far post.
But Szczesny was up to the task and in spite of the thousands of Argentina fans raising the decibel levels inside the arena, he kept his composure and guessed correctly.
He dived to his left and used one hand to swat aside Messi’s effort from the spot.
In spite of the miss, Messi ran the show for Argentina in a match where the two skippers represented FC Barcelona’s past and present.
With a last-16 spot and potential elimination both on the cards in a close group, it was Barca’s record goalscorer Messi who was at the heart of Argentina’s attacks.
He dictated play by dropping deep and tormented the Polish defence.
Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, who has 18 goals in 19 games for Barca this season, did not have a single attempt on goal.
At the other end, Szczesny had been kept busy the entire half with the Poland defence breached time and again.
But the Juventus goalkeeper stood firm to deny Argentina who grew more confident with every attack.
He first denied Alvarez when the Manchester City forward broke through the offside trap.
Then, he tipped Angel Di Maria’s cross over the bar when his Juve teammate attempted to score directly from a corner-kick.
But Szczesny could do nothing but scramble when Mac Allister took his shot even before Poland could settle down after the restart.
Alvarez’s shot for the second goal was too good for any goalkeeper.
“It’s so emotional for me, for the whole squad. It’s a dream come true,” Mac Allister told reporters.
“I debuted with this team, I’m so proud of that. And now managing to score in a World Cup —- I’m so happy.
“(After Messi’s penalty kick) we tried to stay positive, to stay calm. We did not feel down. We tried to be optimistic… Fortunately we managed to win and go through.”
Argentina nearly made it 3-0 in second-half added time when Nicolas Tagliafico was released down the left and he chipped the ball over Szczesny.
But he saw Jakub Kiwior track back to make a timely intervention and head the ball off the line.
However, Argentina got what they wanted — leapfrogging Poland to take top spot in the group and avoid an early knockout fixture against the mighty France.
Poland, meanwhile, will be relieved to reach the last-16 for the first time since 1986.
How They Finished in Group C
Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Argentina 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 6
Poland 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
Mexico 3 1 1 1 2 3 -1 4
Saudi Arabia 3 1 0 2 3 5 -2 3
* Argentina and Poland advance to second round
Permutation for Dec 1 Fixtures
- Croatia and Belgium meet for the first time in a tournament setting to contest a place in the knockout phase of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Croatia will secure a round-of-16 berth if they avoid defeat, while Belgium can only be sure of progressing with a victory. If Morocco lose to already-eliminated Canada, it is possible that both these European teams could advance.
- With defeats in their opening two FIFA World Cup 2022™ matches, Canada are already out, but Morocco, who are second in the group on four points, are well placed to seize one of Group F’s two qualifying berths. A draw will be enough to see them through as group runners-up – as will a defeat for Belgium against Croatia in the group’s other final fixture – while a win could see them secure top spot. The countries’ respective captains, Atiba Hutchinson and Romain Saïss, are team-mates at Turkish club Beşiktaş.
- Japan’s momentous 2-1 victory over Germany in their opening game was offset by a 1-0 defeat by Costa Rica, and they can only be certain of prolonging their stay at the FIFA World Cup 2022™ if they win their final Group E fixture against Spain, who will go through if they avoid defeat and are guaranteed top spot if they win. This is the first competitive meeting between the teams.
- Germany, who have failed to win either of their first two FIFA World Cup group fixtures for the first time, prop up Group E, but if they beat Costa Rica by two or more goals, they can only be eliminated if Japan defeat Spain. Costa Rica will go through if they beat Germany, or with a draw if Spain beat Japan.
(Reuters/NAN)/Thisday
