Argentina 2 Mexico 0: Messi’s moment of magic and Fernandez strike keep World Cup hopes alive for under-par Argentines

IN the blink of an eye, everything changed for Lionel Messi.

The thread, by which his World Cup dream still hangs, was at breaking point.

The green shirts of Mexico were proving to be like Kryptonite to football’s little Superman.

But out of nothing, out of nowhere, yet again he took charge of his story.

There seemed little  danger when on 64 minutes Angel Di Maria laid the ball inside to Messi, who for once had a little room to breathe out of the clutches  of Mexico’s suffocating defence.

His first touch with that wand of a left foot teed up the ball. His second sent it arrowing across Guillermo Ochoa and into the corner.

The blue-and-white hordes behind the goal exploded in joy, releasing the tension that had been growing since that opening defeat against Saudi Arabia.

The fear and worry disappeared completely only when substitute Enzo Fernandez scored a brilliant second in the dying minutes.

So the time for Argentina to cry for Messi and itself has been postponed, until Wednesday’s clash with Poland at least.

Until that first magic moment, the match was a disappointment to everyone except Mexico. Knowing a draw would leave them needing to beat the Saudis to progress, Tata Martino’s side played for one. And why shouldn’t they?

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What do they care for Messi’s unfulfilled quest to match Diego  Maradona and lift the World Cup?

But for fans of the beautiful game, of those moments of brilliance that can transform a match and change a mood, this felt the right outcome.

Overall the match failed to live up to the atmosphere that was building for hours before kick-off.

Unlike most of the World Cup venues, Lusail Stadium is in a built-up area with shops and houses.

Fans of both sides poured out of the metro station, banging drums, waving flags and singing songs.

It was soon clear those in blue and white — whether native Argentinians, locals drawn to Messi by Qatar’s ownership of Paris Saint-Germain, or just global disciples of the man and his team — would be in the majority.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni made five changes to the side from the Saudi defeat, including three of his back four and the promotion of Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.

Argentina started on the front foot but Mexico created the first chance when centre-back Cesar Montes diverted a Luis Chavez free-kick wide.

Scaloni’s side could not turn possession into attacking threat, with Messi absent for long periods.

He may have an incredible skillset, but heading in crosses from 15 yards, as he tried to do after Marcos Acuna swung in the ball, is not his forte.

Mexico defender Nestor Araujo was booked for mowing down Acuna but otherwise his team looked comfortable.

To be honest, there was not a lot of football being played.

Messi’s 34th-minute free kick, more cross than shot and fisted away by Ochoa, was the first effort on target .Fans of robust challenges were not disappointed and experienced Italian ref Daniele Orsato resisted too many yellow cards.

Mexico were showing next to no attacking intent, but didn’t need to.

The onus was on Argentina to make something happen.

Lautaro Martinez headed wide, but the most significant action of the first half was potentially the withdrawal through injury of veteran Mexico captain Andres Guardado.

Argentina keeper Emi Martinez held Alexis Vega’s free-kick, and that was  it for goalmouth action.

When Messi earned a free-kick just after the break, the Argentina fans chanted his name. But the spell failed and the ball looped over.

When he hit a pass straight out of play, the Mexican jeers were piercing. Scaloni had to roll the dice and immediately after a double substitution, the moment arrived. Messi seemed to have tears in his eyes as he celebrated wildly.

Benfica star Fernandez’s fabulous strike sealed the win but it was Messi who changed the game.

The fact it was he who made the difference again does not bode well for Argentina’s bid to win the World Cup for a third time.

There are sides who are better  collectively, and with their own superstars, who look a better bet.

But their first target, to take their challenge into next month at least, is in their hands.

Or in that left foot.

ARGENTINA: E Martinez, Montiel (Molina 64), Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Acuna, Di Maria (Romero 69), De Paul, Rodriguez (Fernandez 57), Mac Allister (Palacios 69), Messi, Lautaro Martinez (Alvarez 63). Booked: Montiel. 

MEXICO: Ochoa, Alvarez (Jimenez 66), Araujo, Montes, Moreno, Gallardo, Chavez, Herrera, Guardado (Gutierrez 42), Lozano (Alvarado 73), Vega (Antuna 66). Booked: Araujo, Gutierrez, Herrera, Alvarado.