Argentina collected their first win at the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Mexico, with Lionel Messi netting his second goal of the tournament on Saturday evening.
Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez made his first start of the tournament for the Albiceleste and Lionel Messi started his 21st World Cup match, beating the late Diego Maradona's appearance record.
An intense opening was presented to the masses around the globe by the two nations where fierce challenges across all departments on the field of play was the order of the day in Lusail.
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Mexico started to sit deep and denied the Albiceleste spaces in between the lines which halted the third-man runs from Messi, Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez.
The Albiceleste did force a save out of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the form a curling free-kick from a tight angle outside the area by Messi.
A substitution from El Tri just over five minutes to halftime had Erick Gutierrez introduced in place of captain Andres Guadrado in the middle of the park.
El Tri fashioned their first clear threat a minute before the break when a scorching free-kick outside the box by Alexis Verga worked a towering stop from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Mexico launched an encouraging start into the second half whereby Hirving Lozano unleashed a clever shot from a smart angle which forced a solid block from Nicolas Otamendi.
It was the Albiceleste though that went ahead midway following the second period when talisman Messi picked up a pass from Di Maria and drilled the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
The Albiceleste nabbed a second goal with three minutes to go when Enzo Fernandez picked up a pass from a short-corner and swiveled into the area before arrowing into the top corner.
Argentina managed to hold out the remaining exchanges coupled with the lengthy stoppage time to claim the win and bring their World Cup campaign back on track.
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