Argentina struck two second-half goals to beat Poland and secure first place in Group C, with the Poles pipping Mexico by goal difference.
- Argentina take the top spot after their second Group C victory
- Poland clings on for qualification, pipping Mexico by a single goal
- Messi has first-half penalty saved; McAllister gets first international goal0
Poland 0-2 Argentina
Goalscorers: MacAllister (46), Alvarez (64)
Argentina made sure of their place in the round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Poland at Stadium 974 on Wednesday. Poland, a well-beaten side on this occasion, will join them in the knockout stages thanks to their superior goal difference over a Mexico side who also finished on four points.
On a night when Lionel Messi had a penalty saved superbly by Wojciech Szczezny, one of the squad’s less celebrated names, Alexis McAllister, broke the deadlock with his first international goal just after half-time. Julian Alvarez ended any doubt for a rampant Albiceleste when collecting a pass from Enzo Fernandez and curling a shot into the corner.
With their victory, Lionel Scaloni’s team leapfrogged Poland into first place in Group C. Their performance dispelled any lingering after-effects of that opening loss to Saudi Arabia. They could easily have won by more goals against opponents who did not manage an attempt on target. They will next face Australia in the round of 16, while Poland must take on world champions France.
Argentina was positive from the outset and, in the 29th minute, saw Marcos Acuna drill a fierce shot just past the far post.
Ten minutes later, Messi had an opportunity from the penalty spot after Szczezny was adjudged, after a VAR review, to have caught him with his hand after Argentina’s skipper had beaten him to a cross. Yet the Juventus goalkeeper responded magnificently by throwing himself to his left and raising a strong arm to parry Messi’s decisive strike.
The second-half goals from McAllister and Alvarez were the least Argentina deserved as they pushed for more purposes, with Poland grateful to Jakub Kiwior for a late goalline clearance from Nicolas Tagliafico.
MacAllister plays football in England (with Brighton and Hove Albion), his surname is Scottish, but his father, Carlos, played for Argentina. And he earned hero status back in Buenos Aires with the breakthrough goal, his first for Argentina.
It came immediately after the restart as he met Nahuel Molina’s cutback with a low shot. In truth, he scuffed it, but the ball still found the far corner.
