By VIVIAN AHANMISI

Argentina strengthened their chances of reaching the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Austria 2-0 in a keenly contested Group J encounter.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the match was played at Dallas Stadium, Dallas, United States.

The South Americans dominated possession from the opening whistle and created several scoring opportunities against a disciplined Austrian side.

Argentina’s attacking play was led by captain Lionel Messi, who remained the focal point of their attack throughout the match.

Argentina had the chance to take an early lead when they were awarded a penalty in the first half.

Messi stepped forward to take the spot-kick, but his effort was saved by the Austrian goalkeeper.

The miss briefly lifted Austria’s confidence as they attempted to frustrate the Argentine attackers.

In spite of the setback, Argentina continued to press forward and eventually got their reward in the 38th minute.

Messi made amends for his missed penalty by finding the back of the net after receiving a well-timed pass from Facundo Medina.

The goal gave Argentina a deserved 1-0 lead heading into the halftime break.

Austria showed determination in the second half and tried to fight their way back into the game.

They defended strongly and occasionally threatened on the counterattack, but Argentina’s defence remained organised and denied them clear scoring chances.

As the match progressed, Argentina controlled the midfield and prevented Austria from building any sustained pressure.

The South Americans continued to create chances but were unable to increase their advantage for most of the second half.

Just when Austria appeared set to keep the scoreline respectable, Messi struck again in stoppage time.

In the 90+5th minute, the Argentine captain calmly finished another attacking move to score his second goal of the night and seal a 2-0 victory for his side.

The match was also marked by several tough tackles, with both teams receiving yellow cards from the referee.

Austria’s Kevin Danso was cautioned for a reckless challenge, while Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul was also booked during the encounter.

Messi’s two goals and overall performance proved decisive as Argentina secured all three points.

His ability to recover from a missed penalty and still influence the outcome highlighted his experience and leadership on the world stage.

The victory moved Argentina closer to qualification for the next round, while Austria will need a positive result in their remaining matches to keep their World Cup hopes alive. (NAN)

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