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Lionel Messi’s sporting legacy didn’t hinge on the results of Wednesday’s World Cup match between Argentina and Poland.
However his goals of successful a World Cup, and reaching what he himself referred to as the “unimaginable dream,” hung within the steadiness.
Argentina took the sector at Stadium 974 in Doha for his or her remaining match of group play needing a win, or a draw and a few assist, to advance to the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup. With all the things to play for, and in entrance of a crowd that supplied the texture of a house match for Argentina, Messi and firm lastly broke by within the second half, punching their ticket to the spherical of 16 with a powerful 2-0 victory over Poland.
Because the match wound down, the main focus shifted from whether or not Messi and Argentina would advance, as to whether Poland themselves – who entered the ultimate day of group play atop the group – would survive.
Messi himself had an early probability within the eleventh minute from a troublesome angle, however his shot was deflected behind purpose by Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny for a nook. Poland would ultimately clear, retaining the match degree.
Argentina would have one other great probability within the twenty eighth minute:
Szczensy managed to dam a shot off the suitable foot of Julian Alvarez, however the rebound settled on the ft of Marcos Acuna, whose personal try went simply.
They stored the stress on, and within the thirty third minute Angel Di Maria curled in an exquisite ball on a nook, forcing Szczensy to react and punch the ball over:
As you’ll be able to see, even Szczensy appreciated Di Maria’s try on the Olimpico.
The Polish keeper wouldn’t respect what occurred moments later. On a ball into the field, Szczensy got here off the road to try to punch the ball away earlier than Messi might get to it, and made contact with Messi’s face. After a assessment, Argentina was awarded a penalty.
And with the eyes of the world on him, together with the hopes of the nation, Messi stepped to the spot.
Solely to be denied:
Right here is one other take a look at the hassle from the Polish keeper, who learn it proper after which used his large body to disclaim Messi:
However Argentina stored the stress on, retaining Poland on their heels and forcing Szczensy to make save after save. And by the point the whistle blew for halftime, Argentina had 14 photographs to their credit score, and Szczensy had made 9 saves, together with the penalty kick.
But the match was scoreless.
The story of the second half could be whether or not the one-way site visitors of the match would lastly end in a purpose from Argentina, or if Szczensy and Poland might face up to the stress, and maybe counter with a purpose of their very own.
We acquired the mere seconds into the second half:
Argentina lastly broke by off the primary contact from Alexis Mac Allister, after the cross performed again into the field from Nahuel Molina.
It was Mac Allister’s first purpose for Argentina in worldwide play.
The purpose additionally put some stress on Poland, and their very own possibilities for advancing into the spherical of 16. Poland might advance even with a loss, however immediately the outcome between Mexico and Saudi Arabia got here into focus. Mexico scored twice early within the second half, pulling them degree within the group with Poland on 4 factors every.
Which means the margin in each video games may very well be decisive, with purpose differential between Poland and Mexico the primary tiebreaker, and objectives scored the second.
So when Alvarez scored within the 68th minute, it was time to panic on the Polish bench. The purpose from Alvarez meant that Poland and Mexico have been degree not simply on purpose differential, but additionally objectives scored.
Which might convey the following tiebreaker into play, the FIFA “honest play factors” calculus, into view. Poland, having been proven simply 4 yellow playing cards throughout group play, held that benefit over Mexico, who had seen seven.
However one other purpose from both Mexico, or Argentina, would change that. As would a purple card for both Mexico or Poland. These additionally appeared like the one seemingly choices, as Poland lacked any attacking capabilities all through the match with Argentina. Messi and firm continued to dominate possession and the circulation of play, and even fast possibilities at counters didn’t materialize for Poland.
Within the 78th minute, Grzegorz Krychowiak acquired a yellow card for Poland, bringing that potential tiebreaker even nearer, and decreasing Poland’s margins for error that rather more.
Because the match moved into the 81st minute, Argentina appeared to dial again the stress a bit, and settled for controlling the ball and the tempo, slightly than pushing ahead as that they had been for the primary 80 minutes of play.
Argentina did have a incredible probability at one other purpose within the 86th minute, when Poland gave the ball away in their very own finish. Lautaro Martínez gained the race to the ball and put one other shot in the direction of purpose for Argentina, however the ball rolled vast of the purpose, retaining Poland alive:
Six minutes of stoppage time have been added, that means that Poland wanted to hold on for just a little longer, whereas hoping issues remained as they have been between Saudi Arabia and Mexico. Argentina had two unbelievable possibilities throughout stoppage time, the primary of which required a header off the road to maintain Poland alive:
Lastly the ultimate whistle blew, and it was time for Poland to take a seat and watch the match between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, and hope for excellent news.
Poland acquired that excellent news, as Saudi Arabia scored in stoppage time, giving Poland the sting on purpose differential over Mexico.
You might virtually hear the sighs of reduction type the Polish bench, over the still-present roar of Argentina’s followers.
Whereas the chaotic end to each matches is perhaps the story of the day, the larger image is Messi, and his goals of a World Cup remaining intact after a tough begin within the loss to Saudi Arabia. With the victory from Argentina – and the win for Mexico – Argentina advances because the winners of the group, avoiding a gathering with France within the spherical of 16.
And Messi’s visions of an unimaginable dream survive for just a few extra nights, a minimum of.
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