Lionel Messi showered reward on teammate Enzo Fernandez after their objectives helped Argentina to a vital win over Mexico on Saturday.
- Messi screamer opened scoring in opposition to Mexico
- Fernandez solo effort made it 2-0
- Messi hailed significance of 21-year-old
WHAT HAPPENED? Messi’s lengthy vary screamer simply after the hour mark was matched by Fernandez’s solo run and curling effort as Argentina celebrated an important 2-0 win over Mexico. Messi pressured the significance of the 21-year-old for the Albiceleste, as his objective settled the nerves in a cagey Group C matchup.
WHAT THEY SAID: “I do know Enzo very nicely, right here from the nationwide crew and I additionally performed in opposition to him within the Champions League,” Messi mentioned. “He deserves it, as a result of he’s a spectacular child and a vital participant for us. I’m very comfortable for him and for us, as a result of the objective he scored gave us peace of thoughts within the sport. We didn’t count on to start out the World Cup with a loss, so we needed to show the state of affairs round. Enzo’s nice objective ended the sport and now we will face the sport in opposition to Poland differently.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: The end result leaves Argentina with three factors on the board following a disastrous begin to the match in opposition to Saudi Arabia. Messi’s strike takes his World Cup tally as much as two objectives, as his heroics as soon as once more hauled his crew out of bother. The reduction was seen for all to see on the Argentina bench, as Messi’s screamer decreased assistant coach Pablo Aimar to tears.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
Getty PicturesGetty
Getty Pictures
DID YOU KNOW? Messi is now each the youngest (18y 357d vs Serbia in 2006) and the oldest (35y 155d vs Mexico, Saturday) participant to each rating and help in a single World Cup sport because the begin of the 1966 match.
WHAT NEXT FOR ARGENTINA? After objectives from Messi and Fernandez secured the three factors in a must-win sport in opposition to Mexico, Argentina might want to beat Poland on matchday 3 to make sure of qualification to the final 16.