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Lionel Messi was once again Argentina’s saviour with the breakthrough goal in a 2-0 win over Mexico at Lusail Stadium to ignite his side’s Qatar 2022 World Cup campaign.
Poland’s 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia earlier on Saturday left Argentina needing to avoid defeat against Mexico if they were not to exit the competition after just two games.
Argentina put their shock 2-1 loss against Saudi Arabia behind them thanks to Messi’s long-range opener after 64 minutes and Enzo Fernandez’s equally-as-impressive late strike.
Lionel Scaloni’s men join Saudi Arabia on three points and are one point behind Group C leaders Poland, who they face in their final match, while Mexico are bottom on one point.
Argentina made five changes on the back of their opening loss, three of those in defence and they failed to register a meaningful attempt in the first half.
Mexico went closest to opening the scoring before the interval through an Alexis Vega free-kick that called Emiliano Martinez into action.
The quality only marginally improved in the second half, but out of nowhere Messi controlled Angel Di Maria’s pass and fired a low shot past Guillermo Ochoa from 25 yards.
That strike took Messi level with fellow great Diego Maradona on eight World Cup goals for Argentina, who added a second through substitute Fernandez.
With three minutes left, the Benfica midfielder received a pass from Messi following a short corner, worked his way into the box and curled away from Ochoa into the top corner for his first Argentina goal.
What does it mean? Group C going down to the wire
The four shots Argentina and Mexico produced between them in the first half was the lowest combined total in a World Cup game since the Netherlands against Argentina in 2014 (three).
However, Scaloni’s side stepped things up in the final half an hour to ensure their hopes of progression remain in their own hands as they made it 11 games without defeat against a lacklustre Mexico side.
Argentina will now be guaranteed a place in the last 16 if they beat Poland, while a draw may also prove enough.
Mexico are bottom of Group C but can still advance should they beat Saudi Arabia and Argentina lose to Poland, while a win for Mexico and a draw in the other game will mean goal difference comes into the equation.