Lionel Messi had a penalty saved however Argentina nonetheless superior to the final 16 of the World Cup as Group C winners after a 2-0 victory over Poland on Wednesday. Poland additionally went by way of as runners-up though a 2-1 win for Mexico over Saudi Arabia within the group’s different recreation meant Czeslaw Michniewicz’s facet superior solely on objective distinction. Alexis Mac Allister’s Forty sixth-minute objective settled Argentina’s nerves after a tense first half, earlier than Julian Alvarez doubled their lead simply over 20 minutes later. Argentina had been unable to discover a well beyond Wojciech Szczesny in a gap 45 minutes through which the Poland goalkeeper saved his second penalty of the event.

Szczesny was adjudged to have fouled Messi whereas stretching to achieve a cross, however he dived to his left to beat away the ensuing spot-kick.

It was the thirty first penalty Messi had didn’t convert in his profession.

Poland provided little attacking menace, with star striker Robert Lewandowski nearly nameless all through.

Instead it was left to Szczesny to take centre stage for the Poles, denying Messi with two essential early stops.

First Messi wriggled away from a pack of defenders earlier than producing a shot that flew straight on the keeper.

Then he discovered house to cost into the Polish field down the left, forcing Szczesny to make a save at his close to put up.

Argentina continued to create the higher possibilities within the first half and Marcos Acuna flashed a shot extensive after Alvarez had additionally gone near breaking the impasse.

Szczesny needed to scramble to cease Angel di Maria scoring direct from a nook, earlier than the goalkeeper was once more referred to as into motion to disclaim Alvarez.

– Penalty save –

Szczesny outdid himself when he dived to his left to cease Messi’s penalty within the thirty ninth minute.

He nonetheless had extra to do earlier than the half-time whistle, punching away a shot from Alvarez earlier than saving the follow-up from Rodrigo de Paul.

There was nothing he might do when Mac Allister broke the impasse lower than a minute after the interval.

Nahuel Molina charged down the proper, then minimize the ball again for Mac Allister to drill simply past Szczesny’s attain.

The objective compelled Poland to indicate some belated attacking ambition and Kamil Glik headed simply extensive from a free-kick virtually instantly after the restart.

Argentina continued to go searching for extra objectives and Alvarez scored their second after combining nicely with Enzo Fernandez.

Fernandez, making his first begin for Argentina, picked out his team-mate, who held off a defender earlier than lashing the ball previous Szczesny.

Poland have been nonetheless strolling a tightrope with yellow playing cards doubtlessly essential to their possibilities of reaching the final 16.

Grzegorz Krychowiak went into the e-book within the 83rd minute however a late objective for Saudi Arabia towards Mexico noticed the Poles safely by way of on objective distinction.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)

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