Alexis Mac Allister celebrates his goal
Despite Lionel Messi’s earlier penalty miss, Argentina secured their last-16 spot with a 2-0 victory over Poland in the second half, with to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez.
Despite losing, courtesy to Mexico’s 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia, the Poles seized second place by virtue of a superior goal difference to El Tri.
Although Wojciech Szczesny superbly saved Messi’s first-half penalty, Argentina moved from the group stage for the 13th time in 14 attempts thanks to Mac Allister and Alvarez goals after the break.
However, because to Saudi Arabia’s late goal against Mexico, Poland joined Argentina in the knockout stage on the basis of better goal difference, reaching the round of 16 for the first time since 1986.
Argentina dominated the first half, with Messi forcing excellent reflexes from Szczesny and Marcos Acuna blasting narrowly wide from 20 yards, while Poland provided little opposition.
La Albiceleste were granted a penalty six minutes before halftime after Szczesny was adjudged to have fouled Messi, but Szczesny, who had saved a penalty against Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al Dawsari on Saturday, made amends with a spectacular stop.
Within a minute of the restart, Scaloni’s team broke through, with Mac Allister arriving to direct Nahuel Molina’s cross into the far corner.
At the other end, Kamil Glik headed wide for Poland before Argentina increased their lead in the 67th minute, when Enzo Fernandez found Alvarez, who twisted and fired into the top corner.
Lautaro Martinez almost scored a third goal before Nicolas Tagliafico was saved on the line by Jakub Kiwior, but as news from elsewhere in Group C trickled in, both teams could enjoy the continuation of their World Cup trip after the final whistle.
What does it imply? Both teams progress to the round of 16.
Argentina needed to win to prevent their first World Cup group-stage departure since 2002, and they did so with a strong performance in which they controlled 73.3 percent of the ball.
Poland had to rely on other results, but it would not upset the Eagles, who ended a 36-year wait to go past the group stage.
Messi’s record-breaking performance
Argentina’s captain achieved history by appearing in his 22nd World Cup, breaking the late Diego Maradona’s long-standing record for La Albiceleste.
However, after his penalty was saved, he became only the second player since 1966 (excluding shoot-outs) to fail to score with two spot-kicks in the finals, joining Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan, who failed twice in 2010.
Szczesny is experiencing déjà vu.
Szczesny exhibited amazing reflexes to deny Messi after being unfairly penalized by VAR after wonderfully keeping out Saudi Arabia’s Al Dawsari from 12 yards the last time out.
Excluding shoot-outs, he became the third goalie in World Cup history to save two penalties, joining Brad Friedel (2002) and compatriot Jan Tomaszewski (1974).
What comes next?
This weekend, both countries will play their last-16 matches. Argentina plays Australia in the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Saturday, while Poland plays France the next day.
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