Lionel Messi:
Cometh the hour, cometh the person. Messi, like his team-mates, had endured a depressing night till Angel Di Maria picked him out 25 yards from objective halfway by way of the second half. Then, two mecurial touches of that left foot was all that it took to show what had been a really dire recreation on its head. The primary was excellent, cushioning the ball into his path. The second was unerring, drilling an effort throughout Guillermo Ochoa into the underside nook. It was Messi’s eighth objective at a World Cup, drawing him degree with Diego Maradona. However, extra importantly, it was the objective that saved Argentina’s dream of lifting the trophy in 2022 alive. Messi had been completely ineffectual as much as that time, however one second of high quality was all it took to revitalise his facet’s hopes in Qatar and remind the world that he’s not accomplished simply but.
Angel Di Maria:
There have been only a few Argentina gamers who may maintain their heads up excessive following this uninspiring show, however Di Maria did a minimum of appear to be he was attempting to make a distinction. Issues did not at all times come off for him, particularly within the first half, however after the break it was the Juventus star who seemed the almost certainly to make one thing occur. Argentina began to get some pleasure down the suitable hand facet and Di Maria was at all times the person who was probing and attempting to run at his man and get behind the Mexico defence. And it was his cross that picked out Messi in some house for the objective. It wasn’t a superb efficiency by Di Maria by any means, however in a poor workforce show, he made a distinction when it actually mattered.
Enzo Fernandez:
What a option to rating your first worldwide objective. The 21-year-old was introduced off the bench halfway by way of the second half and was one of many substitutes who actually made a distinction for Argentina. Lionel Scaloni’s facet had been actually poor, however the second half adjustments led to an enchancment and so they have been comfortably the higher facet after Lionel Messi had damaged the impasse. There was nonetheless some nerves round, nonetheless, with the rating solely 1-0. They wanted a second objective simply to make sure and it was Fernandez who offered it, curling house a fairly gorgeous effort on 87 minutes to place the sport to mattress. It was a beautiful end and a particular second for the Benfica starlet.