Argentina 2-0 Austria: Messi breaks World Cup scoring record as la Albiceleste progress | OneFootball

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Argentina secured their spot in the knockout round this evening with a crucial win over Austria, which saw Lionel Messi break the all-time World Cup goalscoring record, surpassing Miroslave Klose.

Messi had the perfect chance to open the scoring just eight minutes in, when Argentina were awarded a penalty, however in a rare mishap for the forward, he fired wide. However, the record-breaking goal did come before half-time, when he charged on to the ball just inside the penalty area before picking out the bottom corner with a trademark finish.

Messi found the net again in the closing moments of the match, when he rounded off a rapid counter-attack with a close-range finish.

As it happened

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni made just one change following his side’s convincing win over Algeria last time out, with Nahuel Molina replacing Gonzalo Montiel. Meanwhile, Austria made three changes from their 3-1 win over Jordan, which included Marco Arnautovic dropping to the bench.

Lautaro Martínez looked to break through the Austria defence early on in the game, but a firm double-tackle from Stefan Posch and Xaver Schlager thwarted his effort before he could get a shot away. However, a lengthy VAR check followed the challenge, with referee Amin Mohamed Omar awarding a penalty kick after being sent to the monitor.

Messi stepped up to the plate to take the spot kick, but he fired wide of the target. It all felt a bit too casual from the Argentine.

Argentina’s next piece of action came when Messi dribbled through the defence before being halted by David Alaba without getting a shot off. Ralf Ragnick’s men got their first real opportunity in the 22nd minute, when the ball fell to Marcel Sabitzer at the back post, but his shot was blocked.

Messi was, unsurprisingly, at the heart of the following attack for his side, but his shot was cleared off the line. His moment came shortly before half-time, when he charged onto a ball just inside the area before sweeping it into the bottom corner to break the all-time World Cup goalscoring record and give his side the lead.

The first yellow card of the match was shown to Posch shortly after, when he caught Lisandro Martinez with his shoulder whilst the ball was out of play. Argentina continued to control the remainder of the first half and headed into the break a goal to the good.

Messi continued to run the show in the early phases of the second 45, winning a foul inside the opening moments before once again bursting through the Austrian defence, only to be ruled offside. The magician won yet another free-kick minutes later, but he couldn’t find a teammate with the set-piece.

Emiliano Martínez made his first save of the match in the 55th minute, denying Sabitzer’s long-range effort from a free-kick. Cristian Romero appeared to be struggling with his knee early in the second half, and he was subsequently replaced by Nicolas Otamendi just before the hour mark.

A lovely passing move from Argentina saw Enzo Fernández get a shot away from the edge of the box, but his effort was well blocked by Kevin Danso. Further changes followed from Scaloni, who introduced Julián Álvarez and Nico González in place of Thiago Almada and Martínez.

Austria made a triple change themselves in the 67th minute, which saw Arnautovic, Marco Friedl and Alexander Prass introduced in favour of Alaba, Posch and Paul Wanner as they continued the hunt for an equalising goal.

González came ever so close to adding a second for la Albiceleste from their first corner of the game, heading narrowly wide. Medina and Laimer were both shown yellow cards shortly after following a brief confrontation between the two.

Ragnick’s next change saw Patrick Wimmer replace Romano Schmid. Minutes later, Austria came close to what would have been a golden opportunity for a leveller, but Medina was on hand to clear the ball away. He was then withdrawn in favour of Nicolás Tagliafico, as well as Leandro Paredes, who replaced Rodrigo De Paul.

Austria’s final change saw Carney Chukwuemeka introduced for the final five minutes of regular time, replacing Michael Gregoritsch. Seconds later, González broke through the defence and got his shot off, but some brilliant recovery work meant it was blocked and cleared.

González won a free-kick for Argentina in a wide area, as five minutes of additional time were announced by the fourth official. However, Messi failed to find a teammate in the area from the dead-ball opportunity. Paredes was then added to the referee’s notebook for a late tackle on Chukwuemeka in the middle of the park.

Wimmer came close to an equaliser partway through injury time, but saw his header drift wide of Martínez’s post. However, Argentina broke with power and wrapped up the three points, and progression to the next round when Messi netted his second of the match from close range with mere moments left on the clock.