Messi's goal celebration before the World Cup
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| Lionel Messi Scores 1 goal against UAE । Photo;AFP |
The main thing was not to win or lose, but to prepare ourselves before the World Cup. Judging by the number of goals, that preparation has been quite good for Argentina.
Lionel Messi defeated the United Arab Emirates 5-0 today in
an international friendly match. Angel Di Maria, back from injury, scored
twice, Messi, Julián Alvarez and Joaquin Correa scored one each.
With this, Argentina remained undefeated for 36 consecutive
matches in international football. Italy's world record of 37 matches unbeaten.
This was Argentina's last warm-up match before playing the
first match of the World Cup against Saudi Arabia next Tuesday. In the match at
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Argentina led by 4 goals in the first
half.
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| Julian Alvarez gave Argentina the first goal from Messi's Pass Photo:AFP |
Lionel Scaloni's team got the first goal on the counter-attack
by stopping the Emirates attack in the 17th minute.Di Maria set up
Messi with a quick ball from their own half. Fast forward Messi,enters the
D box and passes the ball to Alvarez, who is unguarded on the left.
Standing safely, the Manchester City forward shot the ball
into the net with his right foot.This is Messi's 50th goal-assist for
Argentina.
Di Maria scored in the 25th minute. Acuna extended the ball almost from the edge of the corner. An unguarded Di Maria volleyed a left-footed volley past the far post. After 12 minutes Di Maria scored the team's third and his second goal. Emirates goalkeeper Khalid Isa was easy to evade on this journey.
Not just scoring goals, Di Maria terrorized the Emirates
defense with perfect passes and long crosses. Messi scored in the 44th minute
due to Di Maria's fast pace.
With great understanding, Messi dribbled inside the D box
after receiving a pass from Di Maria and took a right foot shot past two defenders,
the ball went into the net with the far post.
It was his 11th goal for Argentina in 2022, 91st in international football.
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| Di Maria returned from injury to score twice । Photo:AFP |
After going to the break with a 4-0 margin, the Argentine coach picked up four people including Di Maria, Acuña. After that, there was a bit of a lull in Argentina's attack.
However, in the 60th minute, Joaquin Correa made use of the
opportunity created by Rodrigo de Paul to give Argentina the fifth goal. The
forward, who came on as a replacement for defender Acuña, slotted the ball into
the net through a tangle of three defenders.
However, no one could score another goal in the last half hour of the match. At this time, the goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and the defenders have completed the 'preparation' by stopping some of the attacks of the Emirates.
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