Mac Allister carries Argentina into World Cup knockout stages
Argentina needed a bloke whose name begins with an M to carry them to a crucial victory… but for once, it was not Lionel Messi. It was Alexis Mac Allister keeping his nation’s World Cup hopes alive.
Mac Allister chose a timely moment to score his first international goal, putting Argentina 1-0 ahead against Poland early in the second half after Messi had missed a first half penalty.
Conspiracy theories abounded when that spot kick was awarded by VAR with FIFA and the officials accused of trying to help Messi and Argentina progress.
Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was somehow judged to have impeded Messi when coming to collect an aerial ball, giving the Argentine captain the chance to open the scoring from the spot.
Justice was done though as Szczesny pulled off a stunning save to deny Messi. It was the second penalty stop of the tournament for the Juventus number one, who has come a long way from conceding three goals at Withdean when on loan with Brentford as a teenager.
Argentina had to win to guarantee progression from Group C following their shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the tournament.
Mac Allister had started on the bench against the Saudis. La Albiceleste boss Lionel Scaloni learnt an important lesson that day and Argentina are now two from two with the Brighton midfielder in the starting XI.
Messi’s missed penalty was not the only opportunity for La Albiceleste in the first half. They could find no way past Szczesny though until Mac Allister struck, finally giving his nation something to show for their utter dominance of possession which stood at 73 percent by full time.
Scaloni deployed Mac Allister as a number eight rather than the holding midfield role he has been so effective in for Brighton this season.
That gave Mac Allister license to burst frequently into the box, which is what happened when he arrived with a perfectly timed run to sweep a low Nahuel Molina cross past Szczesny and into the far corner.
Brighton fans have been waiting 92 years since the first World Cup for a Seagull to score at the tournament. Like the proverbial London Bus, it has now happened twice in 24 hours with Mac Allister following Moises Caicedo netting in Ecuador’s defeat to Senegal.
Unfortunately, that result meant that Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan and Jeremy Sarmiento’s time in Qatar was at an end.
Once Mac Allister had given Argentina the lead, there was little danger of La Albiceleste making their own early exit from the competition.
Poland could not muster a single shot on target all evening. Sublime feet and a powerful strike from Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez completed the scoring on 67 minutes.
Argentina are improving game-by-game at this World Cup. Ominous news for the rest of the nations, but it does mean Mac Allister has a real chance of getting his hands on that famous gold trophy come December 18th.
It was folly to write them off after the Saudi Arabia defeat. No team who wins the World Cup ever plays seven perfect games out of seven.
France drew with Denmark in 2018. Germany drew with Ghana in 2014. Spain lost their opening fixture against Switzerland in 2010. Food for thought also for those fans willing to give up on England after the 0-0 draw with the USA.
Argentina will face Australia and former Brighton pair Maty Ryan and Aaron Mooy in the round of 16, a game La Albiceleste will be overwhelming favourites for.
😍 Imagine scoring your first ever international goal at the #FIFAWorldCup!
Alexis Mac Allister seals top spot for Argentina and earns himself the #Budweiser Player of the Match award.
🇵🇱 #POLARG 🇦🇷 #POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud pic.twitter.com/y6G5xTBUIo
— Budweiser (@Budweiser) November 30, 2022
With Mac Allister creating, scoring, being named FIFA man of the match and topping the BBC Player Ratings again, Argentina are starting to purr.
Oh, and that Messi bloke is pretty useful too when he is fired up to win the one trophy missing from his glittering CV.
Watch out World Cup, La Albiceleste have arrived.
