Argentina keep World Cup hopes alive with Messi-inspired win over Mexico

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2. FT Argentina 2-0 Mexico - Lionel Messi opens scoring, Enzo Fernandez adds second
3. Argentina suffered shock defeat by Saudi Arabia in opening game
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Six added minutes. Surely not enough time for Mexico to rescue this?

Roberto Alvarado goes in the book for a reckless challenge on Nicolas Otamendi.

Argentina are cruising here.

'It's beautiful'

Chris Sutton

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

That is absolutely brilliant. What a finish into the far top corner, right-footed - on a postage stamp. Unbelievable finish.

That's game, set and match. Fantastic, Fernandez. We're right behind it and he drives inside the left of the box, gets his head up and arrows the ball in. Lovely stepover. It's beautiful - no chance for the goalkeeper, it's wide of him with the bend on the ball. Fernandez is on the money.

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What a way to score your first international goal. Enzo Fernandez (21y 313d) is the youngest Argentine to score at the World Cup since Lionel Messi in 2006 (18y 357d).

GOAL - Argentina 2-0 Mexico

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Game over. Argentina work a short corner as Mexico fall asleep at the back.

Fernandez picks the ball up on the edge of the box, produces a lovely step over throwing a couple of defenders of his scent and then curls a delicious shot into the far right corner.

Chris Sutton

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

There's nothing to suggest, from what we've seen so far, that Mexico will get back into this game.

They may well do but they've shown a real lack of urgency. They've got to pass with some purpose.

At this rate, Mexico will be hoping for a huge favour from Poland next Wednesday evening.

Hold on - they have a corner out on the left. Nope. Cleared at the near stick.

Mexico really haven't offered anything of note in an attacking sense yet.

Exequiel Palacios dives into a tackle on Uriel Antuna out on the right wing. Not a clever thing to do when you're defending a one-goal lead.

Raul Jimenez is primed for the right-wing free-kick. Nowt doing. And not a great delivery either.

'Scaloni is screaming at his team'

Chris Sutton

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Mexico have been woeful going forward. The manager is not overly popular - I know how he feels, of course - but it was a snore-draw against Poland and, in truth, they really don't look like creating anything from open play.

From Mexico's point of view, it's whether Argentina get nervous. You can see Scaloni screaming at his team to get higher. It's up to Mexico to do something.

It has been 30 minutes since Mexico last had an effort on goal. Argentina looking way more threatening now particularly with Julian Alvarez scampering down the left at every opportunity.

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That Lionel Messi goal will have seen quite a few journalists having to pretty much revise Sunday morning's newspaper headlines.

Unless of course we get a Mexico goal. Then it all alters again.

SUBSTITUTION

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Roberto Alvarado comes on for Hirving Lozano. The Napoli winger doesn't look thrilled to be going off for Mexico.

'Mexico have offered very little'

Chris Sutton

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I felt it was always going to be an individual moment of brilliance that was going to change a game like this.

It's been an ugly game. Mexico set out to stifle and frustrate and they achieved it for a large part of the match. There's always the danger that they've offered very little going forward.

Now they've changed the system. They're desperate. Can they create an opportunity?

Argentina have got their tails up now. Nahuel Molina has a crack at goal but skies his effort from the edge of the box.

Lionel Scaloni also makes another couple of changes with Christian Romero on for Angel di Maria and Exequiel Palacios replacing Alexis Mac Allister.

All change

Chris Sutton

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Mexico make an immediate change of shape and go to a back four. Everything changes with that piece of Messi brilliance.

It's a wonderful goal. When Argentina needed him, he stepped up. Now Mexico have changed it.

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Lionel Messi now has as many World Cup goals as Diego Maradona (eight), with only Gabriel Batistuta (10) scoring more for Argentina at the competition.

That goal also means Messi has scored in six successive appearances for Argentina, his joint-longest scoring run in international football (also six between November 2011 - September 2012).

SUBSTITUTION

Mexico had barely retrieved the ball from the back of their net when forward Raul Jimenez and winger Uriel Antuna were summoned from the bench.

Revised priorities now for Gerardo Martino's team.

Messi strikes

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer at Lusail Stadium

A football match has broken out here in the second half with Argentina more dominant but it still took a moment of magic from the great man Lionel Messi.

What a noise when that hit the back of the net. What emotion from Lionel Messi. This stadium is absolutely rocking.

Second time lucky for Lionel Messi.

His goal was almost identical to the position he was in earlier, but this one nestled into the bottom bin.

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