Lionel Messi scores, then hugged by fan during Argentina’s 2-0 win over Australia
BEIJING — Lionel Messi was hugged by a fan who ran onto the sector sporting a No. 10 Argentina shirt Thursday throughout a 2-0 pleasant win over Australia, wherein the World Cup champion scored the quickest objective of his profession.
Messi was standing close to the nook flag within the second half when the fan ran onto the sector and embraced him. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner seemed to be stunned because the fan approached, however then put his arm across the interloper’s again earlier than safety guards rapidly moved in.
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The fan bolted throughout the sector and high-fived Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on the opposite finish earlier than doubling again throughout the grass and tripping. The invader was ultimately carried off the sector.
Moments later, Messi helped arrange the second objective for German Pezzella within the 68th minute on the Worker’s Stadium in Beijing.
Earlier, Messi had scored with virtually his first contact, solely per week after deciding to depart Paris Saint-Germain for Inter Miami.
Emerging to huge cheers from the Chinese followers, a lot of them sporting the well-known blue-and-white nationwide group shirts, Messi scored after 1 minute, 19 seconds in Argentina’s third sport since beating France within the World Cup remaining in December.
Australia midfielder Mathew Leckie slipped inside his personal half, permitting Enzo Fernandez to feed Messi, who stepped round Aiden O’Neill on the sting of the realm and curled the ball previous the diving Mat Ryan.
Messi got here shut once more minutes later however Australia quickly labored itself into the match, very like it did within the 2-1 loss to Argentina on the World Cup in Qatar. Mitch Duke’s shot was pushed onto the put up by Martinez.
Messi then had one other likelihood earlier than halftime however the 35-year-old ahead shot over with solely the goalkeeper to beat.
In the second half, Messi once more went shut, this time from a free kick within the sixty fifth minute. He was then concerned in his group’s second objective, passing the ball close to the nook flag to Rodrigo De Paul, who crossed for Pezzella to go house.
A short while later, Messi discovered Julian Alvarez within the space however his low shot was pushed previous the put up by the diving Ryan.
Argentina will subsequent journey to Jakarta to face Indonesia on Monday, whereas Australia will face England in October because it prepares for the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
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