Lionel Messi had a penalty saved however Argentina nonetheless superior to the final 16 of the World Cup as Group C winners after a 2-0 victory over Poland on Wednesday. Poland additionally went by means of as runners-up though a 2-1 win for Mexico over Saudi Arabia within the group’s different recreation meant Czeslaw Michniewicz’s facet superior solely on purpose distinction. Alexis Mac Allister’s Forty sixth-minute purpose settled Argentina’s nerves after a tense first half, earlier than Julian Alvarez doubled their lead simply over 20 minutes later. Argentina had been unable to discover a well beyond Wojciech Szczesny in a gap 45 minutes by which the Poland goalkeeper saved his second penalty of the event.
Szczesny was adjudged to have fouled Messi whereas stretching to succeed in a cross, however he dived to his left to beat away the ensuing spot-kick.
It was the thirty first penalty Messi had didn’t convert in his profession.
Poland supplied little attacking risk, with star striker Robert Lewandowski just about nameless all through.
Instead it was left to Szczesny to take centre stage for the Poles, denying Messi with two essential early stops.
First Messi wriggled away from a pack of defenders earlier than producing a shot that flew straight on the keeper.
Then he discovered house to cost into the Polish field down the left, forcing Szczesny to make a save at his close to submit.
Argentina continued to create the higher probabilities within the first half and Marcos Acuna flashed a shot broad after Alvarez had additionally gone near breaking the impasse.
Szczesny needed to scramble to cease Angel di Maria scoring direct from a nook, earlier than the goalkeeper was once more referred to as into motion to disclaim Alvarez.
– Penalty save –
Szczesny outdid himself when he dived to his left to cease Messi’s penalty within the thirty ninth minute.
He nonetheless had extra to do earlier than the half-time whistle, punching away a shot from Alvarez earlier than saving the follow-up from Rodrigo de Paul.
There was nothing he might do when Mac Allister broke the impasse lower than a minute after the interval.
Nahuel Molina charged down the appropriate, then reduce the ball again for Mac Allister to drill simply past Szczesny’s attain.
The purpose compelled Poland to indicate some belated attacking ambition and Kamil Glik headed simply broad from a free-kick virtually instantly after the restart.
Argentina continued to go seeking extra objectives and Alvarez scored their second after combining nicely with Enzo Fernandez.
Fernandez, making his first begin for Argentina, picked out his team-mate, who held off a defender earlier than lashing the ball previous Szczesny.
Poland had been nonetheless strolling a tightrope with yellow playing cards probably essential to their possibilities of reaching the final 16.
Grzegorz Krychowiak went into the guide within the 83rd minute however a late purpose for Saudi Arabia in opposition to Mexico noticed the Poles safely by means of on purpose distinction.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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