Socceroos v Argentina: Lionel Messi scores after 79 seconds in 2-0 win over Australia
Graham Arnold walked away from another defeat to Argentina full of optimism — with one rising star in particular impressing the Socceroos coach.
Lionel Messi dazzled but Socceroos coach Graham Arnold was just as delighted with the bold showing of Jordan Bos, who now “knows he belongs” on the big stage.
Arnold walked away from his side’s 2-0 loss to World Cup winners Argentina in Beijing on Thursday night full of optimism having played a younger than normal side that included A-League rookie of the year Bos in the starting line-up.
It was just the second cap for Bos, who starred with Melbourne City and earned a move to Belgian Pro League club Westerlo for an Australian record transfer fee.
Bos was busy from the outset and showed his ability to outmuscle senior opponents and his dash and dare helped provide plenty of opportunities for the Socceroos to score.
It was the sort of boldness that comes with youth and for Arnold, the way of the future.
“That’s how he needs to play,” he said.
“I’ve got to play players to their strengths and Jordy’s strength is going forward and making sure that we’re protecting him defensively and obviously he’ll improve out of sight with that.
“But this game, the kid will walk away knowing he belongs and he’ll have that belief that he belongs on the big stage now.
“I just think that he‘s got such a bright future, not just individually but for the Socceroos.”
Lionel Messi scored the fastest goal of his international career, finding the back of the net after just 79 seconds in Beijing, putting Australia on the back foot early.
A second-half goal to Pezzella put the game to bed for Argentina but it came after several hot chances for the Socceroos that was enough to put a smile on Arnold’s face.
“When you‘re playing the world champions like that it’s obviously a good learning curve for a lot of people,” Arnold said.
“Obviously, we started the game poorly. I thought it was a foul, I don‘t know if it was or not.
“It‘s a learning experience for the young players that have probably never played in this type of environment before and I thought they handled the occasion.
“After the first 10 minutes, I thought we did very well.
“Overall, the most pleasing thing is there‘s some kids coming and we’ve just got to expose them and give them the opportunity to be exposed against this type of opposition.”
Riley McGree was among the best Aussie performers with a crop of fellow youngsters in Aiden O’Neill, Keanu Baccus and Nathaniel Atkinson, but 19-year-old Alessandro Circati didn’t get his debut.
The Socceroos will return to action in the September window, then head to Wembley for a massive clash with England.
Arnold was beaming just at the thought of more big games for his emerging squad.
That is just the type of test Arnold wants for his young charges.
“The most important thing is we play our way,” he said.
“We don‘t sit back, we go forward, we move forward. Everything we do is about growing as a team.
“We‘ve got some youngsters coming through and the only way for them to improve is to put them on the big stage.
“If they‘re just playing local football and we’re playing against weak opposition, they’re not gonna learn.
“Tonight, I think quite a number of them will go home and think, ‘Wow, we belong’ and a number of the kids are going overseas now.
“Their careers are only gonna go up from now.”
GONE IN 79 SECONDS: MESSI’S QUICKEST GOAL SINKS SOCCEROOS
Lionel Messi scored the quickest goal of his career as he guided Argentina to a 2-0 friendly win over Australia in Beijing.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner curled in from the edge of the area after just 79 seconds following slack defending by the Socceroos.
In front of a crowd of more than 50,000 adoring fans, Messi nearly notched a rapid second but lashed into the side netting from a tight angle.
Australia weathered the early storm and nearly equalised when attacker Mitchell Duke forced Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to tip a close-range shot onto the post.
Messi and fellow Argentina veteran Angel Di Maria both drew saves from Australia stopper Mat Ryan at the start of the second half.
And the world champions eventually made their pressure count when German Pezzella headed in a cross to make it 2-0 in the 68th minute.
Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez again stretched Ryan as Argentina saw out victory in the sultry summer heat.
Messi is idolised in football-mad China, whose underperforming national team and struggling domestic league are chronic sources of disappointment.
Midway through the second half, a young-looking fan wearing an Argentina shirt invaded the pitch and briefly embraced Messi before being hauled away by security guards.
Thousands greeted the Argentina captain’s every touch with roars of anticipation that built to a crescendo when he put his team into their quick-fire lead.
They had braved afternoon temperatures of nearly 40 degrees Celsius to gather at Beijing’s newly renovated Workers’ Stadium a full three hours before the 8pm (1200 GMT) kick-off.
Many had donned replica shirts bearing Messi’s name, while others wore blue-and-white face paint and waved miniature Argentina flags.
“Today the stadium looked like we were playing in Argentina,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni of the partisan crowd.
He toasted the win in a “difficult game” for his team, adding: “We continued to compete, which is the best thing this team has in its DNA.” Messi did not stop to speak to journalists gathered in the stadium shortly after he left the team dressing room.
The global superstar has kept a low profile in the Chinese capital, save for some commercial engagements in which he confirmed the 2022 World Cup was probably his last.
But the local excitement around the Argentine legend ratcheted up in recent days as the sell-out match drew nearer.
Hundreds of fans massed outside the team’s luxury hotel and lined heavily guarded streets in the hope of catching a glimpse of their hero.
Messi made waves last week when he revealed he would join MLS side Inter Miami after the end of his two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain.
Thursday’s match was a re-run of the last-16 clash between Argentina and Australia at last winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
On that occasion, Messi scored a goal and tormented the Socceroos’ defence as the Albiceleste won 2-1.
Argentina went on to win the World Cup for the first time in 36 years. The South Americans will round off their Asian tour on Monday when they play another friendly against Indonesia in Jakarta
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