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

26 November 2022 at 15:31 EST
Argentina is happier now
Two changes for Argentina too – Exequiel Palacios for Mac Allister, and Cristian Romero for Di Maria.
Scaloni would have taken a 1-0, for sure.

Dermot Corrigan·
La Liga Correspondent
26 November 2022 at 15:30 EST
The hour will come
Messi had been quiet, but then he roared.

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·
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·
Deputy Managing Editor, American Football
26 November 2022 at 15:28 EST
Martino attack changes immediately
All changes now.
Martino reacted to the goal by taking off Vega and putting on Raul Jimenez, to provide a more traditional number nine up front. Uriel Antuna is also on for RB Kevin Alvarez. Mexico really need to score now.

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·
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·
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·
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·
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.

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·
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·
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·
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·
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.
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·
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·
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·
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·
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·
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·
La Liga Correspondent