Argentina beat Poland 2-0 to set up last 16 clash with Australia

Argentina's Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their second goal with Enzo Fernandez and teammates at the FIFA World Cup 2022 Group C match of Poland v Argentina at the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on 30 November, 2022Reuters

Argentina advanced to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Poland in their final Group C match on Wednesday even though skipper Lionel Messi saw a first half penalty saved at Stadium 974.

Argentina’s victory moved the South American side to the top of the group and they will face Australia in the last 16 while second-placed Poland take on reigning champions France.

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after the match
Reuters

Argentina took the lead just one minute into the second half when Alexis Mac Allister got on the end of Nahuel Molina’s cross and, despite making weak contact, he saw his shot creep over the line with Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny beaten.

The goal was just reward for Argentina who had dominated possession while Poland barely managed to get out of their own half.

Argentina's Julian Alvarez scores their second goal
Reuters

The second goal was the result of some patient buildup where Argentina knocked the ball around before Enzo Fernandez unlocked the defence with a through-ball for Julian Alvarez, who found space in the box and smashed it into the top corner.

Earlier, Poland were up in arms when Argentina were awarded a controversial penalty after a VAR check for a foul on Messi when Szczesny’s glove brushed his face as the Paris St Germain forward rose up for a header at the far post.

Poland's Wojciech Szczesny saves a penalty from Argentina's Lionel Messi
Reuters

But Szczesny was up to the task and despite the thousands of Argentina fans raising the decibel levels inside the arena, he kept his composure and guessed correctly, diving to his left and using one hand to swat aside Messi’s effort from the spot.

Szczesny had been kept busy the entire half with the Poland defence breached time and again but the Juventus keeper stood firm to deny the Argentines who grew more confident with every attack.

Poland's Grzegorz Krychowiak celebrates after the match as Poland qualify for the knockout stages
Reuters

He first denied Alvarez when the Manchester City forward broke through the offside trap before he tipped Angel Di Maria’s cross over the bar when his Juve teammate attempted to score directly from a corner kick.

But he could do nothing but scramble when Mac Allister took his shot even before Poland could settle down after the restart while Alvarez’s shot for the second goal was too good for any keeper.