Messi sends Argentina to Russia thanks to incredible hat-trick
Messi sends Argentina to Russia thanks to incredible hat-trick
In the spotlight before his last game in Ecuador, Argentina managed to win (1-3) on Tuesday in Quito, and to qualify for the 2018 World Cup thanks to a triple by Lionel Messi. The United States has been eliminated.
Messi had not said his last word. Argentina have reversed the victory in the first minute by brave Ecuadorians: Messi's genius has come out of the lamp to score three crucial goals that qualify the Albiceleste for the 2018 World Cup in Quito.
With their 3-1 victory in Quito in the 18th and final day of the South American zone, Argentina, on the brink of elimination before the last match, finished in 3rd place (28 pts) directly qualified for the World Cup in Russia, behind Brazil (1st with 41 pts) and Uruguay (2nd, 31 pts). "Luckily, it smiled at us, and it was all over. We are calm, we have reached the goal, it is the most important," said Messi, hilarious, leaving the locker room, in the stadium Atahualpa of Quito.
A few hours earlier, the Argentines were offered a great scare. As Ecuadorians opened the scoring early in the game. The middle Romario Ibarra took advantage of the inattention of the Argentine defense to score left after only forty seconds of play!
"A World without Messi, it is not a World Cup"
But big players have to meet present in key moments. And Messi did it, in very delicate playing conditions because of the altitude of the Ecuadorian capital (2,850 m).
As the qualification faded away and despair swept over the 41 million Argentinians, he first set both teams tied. In the 12th minute, after a one-two with Parisian Angel Di Maria, the Argentinian captain shot Ecuadorian goalkeeper Maximo Banquera from the left before raising an angry fist.
Survolted, Messi doubled the setting in the 20th minute. Deeply served by Di Maria, the Barcelonan scored a powerful left-footed shot to the left of the penalty area. Imparable, in the left window. "A Mondial without Messi is not a World Cup," commented the Argentinean TyC Sports commentator from Messi's second goal.
"Long live football, long live Messi"
The selection of Jorge Sampaoli could have pulled to the pause with a greater advance. On Messi's shot (16th), or when Messi sent a cavalry in the area to Di Maria, who missed his face-off with the keeper (32nd), or on a header defender Gabriel Mercado on corner (34e).
The third act of the Messi recital took place at the hour of play. On a raise from Otamendi, the Argentinian took possession of the ball at 35 meters, accelerated and shot a shot at the edge of the surface that lobed the Ecuadorian goalkeeper 63). "Gooooool, goooool, long live football, long live Messi," cried the Argentinian commentator.
Famous for his short sentences, the Englishman Gary Lineker summed up the evening of a tweet: "When there is Messi, it has hope". At the end of the match, his teammates warmly embraced him as coach Jorge Sampaoli gratified him with a long hug at the foot of the podium where he had just saluted the Argentinian fans. "He's the best player in history and I'm excited to be in a group with him," Sampaoli said after the match.
The United States eliminated
Another surprise of the evening, the elimination of the United States. American players had a nightmarish night on Tuesday, with a 2-1 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago, which led to elimination for the 2018 World Cup, while Panama, an unexpected Costa Rican winner (2-1) has qualified for his first World Cup.
While in an ideal position before the match, Team USA sank in Couva against Trinidad and Tobago, a red lantern in the Concacaf zone, in a half-empty stadium on the grassy pitch. This will be the first time since 1986 that the American team will miss a final round of the World Cup.