Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan was guilty of an error against Argentina in the knockout game of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday. The keeper took a heavy tough from a back pass which allowed Julian Alvarez to gain possession and hit the ball into an empty net to make it 2-0 for Argentina. Alvarez is the sixth player to score in each of his first two World Cup starts for Argentina, and the first to do so since Hernan Crespo in 2006.

Alvarez’s goal left Australia with a mountain to climb. Argentina had gained the lead with Lionel Messi’s first World Cup knockout goal and had dominated the first half. Alvarez’s goal just before the hour mark put Lionel Scaloni’s squad in full charge of the game.

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Messi scored on his 1000th career appearance in Argentina’s 2-1 win over Australia to surpass his great predecessor Diego Maradona’s tournament total. The 35-year-old’s goal was his third in the Qatar tournament and his ninth at World Cups, one more than Maradona. Seeking a first World Cup at his fifth attempt, the Argentina legend curled the ball low past goalkeeper Ryan from inside the area in the 35th minute.

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Argentina have knocked Australia out of the World Cup and will face the Netherlands in the quarterfinal. But Australia displayed the heart that they have shown all tournament to get past a tough group and make it into the knockouts so far. A triple substitution for Australia in 72 minutes showed a desperate last roll of the dice by manager Graham Arnold. In the final quarter of the game, they were handed a lifeline when an own goal by Enzo Fernande halved their deficit 13 minutes from time. Craig Goodwin’s fierce shot was deflected into the net off Enzo Fernandez an own goal.

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The tension in the game was intense, as moments later, Aziz Behich went on a scurrying run getting past three or four Argentina defenders before seeing his shot crucially blocked by Lisandro Martinez.