Messi nets early stunner, Aussie’s horror miss as champs claim wild World Cup rematch
A moment of magic from global superstar Lionel Messi and a defensive lapse from Australia saw 2022 World Cup champions Argentina claim a 2-0 win over the Socceroos.
The eventual World Cup champions were sorely tested by the green and gold team in the Round of 16 in Qatar, scraping a 2-1 win before going on to hoist the trophy.
The rematch, in front of a sold-out crowd of nearly 70,000 fans in Beijing, saw Argentina’s football association reportedly pocket around $100 million.
But Messi repaid that stunning outlay - or display of sportswashing - in just 79 seconds, opening the scoring from outside the box with a fine curled shot.
The Socceroos grew into the game and hit the post after a poor Mitchell Duke shot from close range in the first half.
However, Argentina’s substitute defender German Pezzella made it 2-0 to the world’s number one team in the 68th minute when he headed in unmarked after a corner.
Argentina showed exactly why they are world champions, playing with freedom and dazzling style at times and showing exceptional individual quality. The South American giants have now lost just once in 46 matches, a stunning run dating back to 2019.
And while Australia lacked quality or composure in the final third, resulting in a lack of clear-cut chances, there were promising signs from a young Socceroos side whose intensity ensured the match was a friendly in name only.
MATCH CENTRE: Scores, stats and more!
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo?
Speaking with coach Graham Arnold after the game, a Socceroos official said: “Your performance at the World Cup probably earned you this fixture tonight and again tonight that probably earned you another opportunity against big nations.”
Arnold
Read on foxsports.com.au
