Argentina vs. Mexico LIVE: Messi scores to put Scaloni’s side ahead in the second half

Argentina vs.  Mexico LIVE: Messi scores to put Scaloni’s side ahead in the second half

26 November 2022 at 15:30 EST

The hour will come

Messi had been quiet, but then he roared.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:29 EST

Messi accelerates

You can’t give Messi that kind of space! He’s been roaming around that area for most of the second half, playing a little deeper than in the first, and it’s paid off. The charge towards the Argentina fans in the corner was probably the fastest he’s run all evening, but what a moment it was.

Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson·

Senior editor at EPL

26 November 2022 at 15:29 EST

Change of pace

I was just about to post an update on how a sense of urgency had clearly settled in for Argentina. Quickly captured goal kicks, direct plays, etc. The new setting obviously worked! Messi finished the wonderful effort just as I finished writing.

Alexander Abnos

Alexander Abnos·

Deputy Managing Editor, American Football

26 November 2022 at 15:28 EST

Martino attack changes immediately

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:27 EST

Six players were there to stop him, but they still gave him the space

As he so often does, Messi roamed in search of an opening. Tata Martino changed tactics to clog the middle of the pitch: three centre-backs, three midfielders. All it takes is one tap for him to slot an inch-perfect shot between Memo Ochoa’s covered angle and the post.

It just had to be Messi.

Jeff Rueter

Jeff Rueter·

Staff Writer, MLS

26 November 2022 at 15:26 EST

The calm is gone

For a few minutes. An Argentinian colleague next to me in the press box was quite composed at first. Then he lost it. For a moment I checked to see if I had bought an audio book called How to Swear in South America. He is now banging on the desk and singing songs after that Messi goal

James Horncastle

James Horncastle·

Serie A correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:25 EST

One chance, one goal

Messi didn’t have a great game but his touch there to set himself up was perfect, maybe the contact on the ball wasn’t 100% true but the direction was perfect and Ochoa had no chance.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:25 EST

Messi scores!

63 minutes: Scratch all that!

Di Maria pass finds Messi in space 25 yards and he darts a low shot straight into the corner, out of reach of Ochoa.

Messi had been bottled up pretty well by Mexico, but it was quality.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:24 EST

Scaloni changes but sticks to the same form

Here comes Scaloni’s double change – Lautaro and Montiel off, Julian Alvarez and Nahuel Molina on.

Very similar for similar – centre-forward for centre-forward, and right-back for right-back.

Which suggests Argentina wouldn’t be too unhappy with the 0-0 draw either, even if it means they have to beat Poland in their final game to progress.

See also  Wordle has been hacked – but that's not going to spoil the fun
Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:22 EST

Scaloni with decisions to make

Argentina also know they can’t take too many risks – Scaloni is unlikely to start throwing on more forwards as if they’re leaving holes at the back, and conceded a Mexico counterattack will see them out of the tournament.

Some subs are coming though… Julian Alvarez among them, will he replace Lautaro?

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:20 EST

Mexico will take this

An hour on and Mexico are still looking remarkably comfortable – and as if they would draw 0-0, confident they can beat the Saudis in their final game to advance.

Messi continues to drop deeper and deeper to get the ball off the CBs and start moves, which continue to fizz long before closing in on the Ochoa goal.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:16 EST

The Di Maria cross causes chaos

55 mins: Di Maria comes down the side of the Mexico defense and his blistering cross causes havoc, but the oncoming Mac Allister just doesn’t make contact and the ball is hacked clear.

Better from Argentina, perhaps, as it really doesn’t look like Messi is going to open up Mexico on his own.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:14 EST

The audience was ready for it

“MESSI! MESSI! MESSI!” Let’s just say more was expected from Messi’s free kick. The audience was ready for it. Messi is the best in the world from that range. Too bad it flew over

James Horncastle

James Horncastle·

Serie A correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:14 EST

Argentina form

Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez spends most of the game deep between Argentina’s CBs – allowing both full-backs Montiel and Acuna to push right in at wing-back.

See also  Has Overwatch 2 been hacked? How to identify and report hackers

In theory, it gives Argentina more options further forward, but isn’t working to break down Mexico’s super-organized lines at all so far.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:12 EST

Messi free kick chance

50 minutes: Free kick position 20 meters away, and just to the right of D, could not have been better for Messi.

He takes a deep breath, wipes sweat from his forehead and cuts the ball a meter over the crossbar.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:10 EST

Messi gets to run

Messi gets to run for the first time tonight, nice flick from Mac Allister and Messi is off, Gutierrez finally drags him down 20 yards, earning a yellow card.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:09 EST

That explains it

Per Rodolfo Landeros of Fox Sports, Andres Guardado had his right quad iced when he sat on the bench after his first-half substitution.

Jeff Rueter

Jeff Rueter·

Staff Writer, MLS

26 November 2022 at 15:06 EST

No changes during the break

There are no changes at the break, perhaps surprisingly, although presumably Argentina coach Scaloni will be thinking about subs soon if the form doesn’t change.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

26 November 2022 at 15:05 EST

Keepers with little to do so far

We might have thought Mexico getting a result tonight would depend on Ochoa repeating his goalkeeping heroics against Brazil in 2014 and Germany in 2018. But he has barely been tested so far tonight, even with Argentina having two-thirds of the ball.

Martinez also had little to do at the other end – that was the one save from the Vega free-kick, but he had time to smile for the photographers.

Dermot Corrigan

Dermot Corrigan·

La Liga Correspondent

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *