Second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez saw Argentina beat Poland 2-0 to top Group C, as both teams advanced to Round of 16.
Following a scrappy opening half during which Lionel Messi saw a 39th minute penalty saved, Argentina quickly snatched the lead just 53 seconds into the second-half through Mac Allister’s strike.
Alvarez’s 67th minute goal then ensured victory for Argentina who topped Group C to set up a Round of 16 clash against Australia.
Poland meanwhile finished level on four points apiece with Mexico upon full-time in their game, yet a late injury-time strike from Saudi Arabia’s Salem Aldawsari limited Mexico to an eventual 2-1 win and Poland advanced by virtue of goal difference to face Australia next.
With just one point separating Poland and Argentina in the knowledge that victory would see at least one of those two teams definitely advance, it was the latter team who started brightest as Nicolas Otamendi headed wide a rebound cross in the third minute.
Messi then saw two shots denied by Wojciech Szczesny in the space of three minutes before he teed up Acuna in the 17th minute, only for the left-back to curl over but he then saw a header two minutes later saved by Szczesny.
Acuna put a 29th minute shot wide after Alvarez’s initial shot was blocked by Szczesny as Argentina continued to dominate.
Alvarez then unleashed two quick-fire shots in the 36th minute of which Szczesny punched away twice, although he collided with Messi as he blocked the second shot with his left hand catching Messi unintentionally in the face as he began to land following his dive.
Referee, Danny Makkelie and VAR though deemed it a foul and awarded a controvesial penalty to Argentina, although Szczesny swiftly extracted revenge by making a right-handed punch to deny Messi’s spot-kick.
Szczesny then made crucial saves to deny Messi and Alvarez in the closing minutes of the first half as both matches remained goalless at half-time, which suited Poland and Argentina at that moment in time.
Argentina though had other ideas on the restart as they aggressively broke forward with Nahuel Molina pulling back from the right, which enabled Mac Allister to calmly rifle in via the left post after just 53 seconds to provisionally put Argentina top from Poland.
Poland attmepted to quickly respond but Kamil Glik headed wide from a 49th minute free-kick in their only decent chance of the opening hour, as Argentina continue to press and dominate the match at their own pace.
Messi, Alvarez and Mac Allister meanwhile all saw shots denied until a breakthrough came in the 67th minute, as Enzo Fernandez picked up a pass and played Alvarez forward to rifle into the top-right corner from close range.
That second Argentinean goal coupled with two early second-half for Mexico against Saudi Arabia elsewhere had major implications, as Poland clung onto second in the group with just over 20 minutes left by virtue of less yellow cards than Mexico.
Argentina though refused to relent in their attacking intensity as Messi and Alvarez both saw further opportunities denied, whilst substitute – Lautaro Martinez dragged his 86th minute shot wide of the left corner which would of likely eliminated their opposition if it had gone in.
Poland however weren’t able to find a breakthrough goal but dug deep defensively to lose by just two goals, although they faced a nervy wait until a late Saudi Arabian goal ensured Mexico won by 2-1 and crashed out on goal difference as Czeslaw Michniewicz’s Polish team advanced instead.
Argentina will now meet Australia in the Round of 16 on Saturday 3 December at 10pm AST local time, whilst Poland will face France in an all-European showdown on Sunday 4 December at 6pm AST.
Teams
Poland: Wojciech Szczesny, Matty Cash, Kamil Glik, Jakub Kiwior, Bartosz Bereszynski (Jedrzejczyk 72), Piotr Zielinski, Krystian Bielik (D.Szymanski 62′), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Piatek 84′), Przemyslaw Frankowski (Kaminski 45′), Karol Swiderski (Skoras 45′), Robert Lewandowski
Substitutes: Artur Jedrzejczyk, Mateusz Wieteska, Jan Bednarek, Arkadiusz Milik, Damian Szymanski, Kamil Grosicki, Lukasz Skorupski, Jakub Kaminski, Szymon Zurkowski, Sebastian Szymanski, Nicola Zalewski, Kamil Grabara, Krzystof Piatek, Robert Gummy, Michal Skoras
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Acuna (Tagliafico 59′), Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez (Pezzella 79′), Angel Di Maria (Paredes 59′), Lionel Messi, Alexis Mac Allister (Almada 84′), Julian Alvarez (Lautaro Martinez 79′)
Substitutes: Franco Armani, Juan Foyth, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Leandro Paredes, German Pezzella, Geronimo Rulli, Exequiel Palacios, Angel Correa, Thiago Almada, Alejandro Gomez, Guido Rodriguez, Paulo Dybala, Lisandro Martinez, Lautaro Martinez
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
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