Argentina 2-0 Austria player ratings: Messi, still the difference | OneFootball

Argentina beat Austria 2-0 on Monday as Lionel Messi scored twice to become the outright World Cup goals record-holder. According to L'Équipe, he was their constant threat, either starting moves or finishing them.

Messi missed a ninth-minute penalty, Wanner clipped a fine pass on 17, then Alaba denied him on 19 and another effort was blocked on 32. He finally broke through on 38, finishing after a pass from the OM full-back Facundo Medina, with Thiago Almada involved. Posch endured a torrid first half, was involved in the penalty incident, arrived late for the goal and was booked on 40 for a foul on Almada.

Almada, tasked with tucking in defensively but brighter than against Algeria, was replaced by J. Alvarez on 64. Austria then changed on 68, with Posch and Paul Wanner withdrawn for Prass and Arnautovic after low-impact outings.

Medina produced a crucial block to stop Wimmer on 81, with Tagliafico introduced on 82. Messi wrapped it up on 90+5 with a low strike Austria could not keep out. Schlager had earlier held firm, standing his ground for the early penalty as Messi missed, but he could not prevent the second.

Nahuel Molina, back after a spring injury, laboured down his flank and was wasteful on the ball despite better energy after the break. Kevin Danso mixed good interventions with uncertainty and could not stop Messi’s stoppage-time second.

Source: L'Équipe