Martinez plays his part as Argentina progress at World Cup
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez made an important late impact for Argentina as they overcame Australia 2-1 in their World Cup last-16 tie.
‘Licha’ had started the game at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium among the substitutes but was introduced after 50 minutes with his side 1-0 up.
His country led 2-1 later in the contest when he produced a superb last-ditch block to stop an almost certain equaliser for Australia.
It was an example of Martinez at his brilliant best, and a trademark showing of passion followed, as it did at the final whistle upon the confirmation of his nation’s progression to the quarter-finals.
His country led 2-1 later in the contest when he produced a superb last-ditch block to stop an almost certain equaliser for Australia.
It was an example of Martinez at his brilliant best, and a trademark showing of passion followed, as it did at the final whistle upon the confirmation of his nation’s progression to the quarter-finals.
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Argentina had been frustrated for large parts of the opening 30 minutes but Lionel Messi’s opener shortly after the half-hour mark, with the first shot on target in the game, broke the deadlock.
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez doubled that lead on the other side of the break, but the job was by no means done there, with Australia pulling one back late on after Craig Goodwin’s shot took a heavy deflection off Enzo Fernandez and found its way in.
It led to a nervy finish for the South Americans, but as mentioned above, United’s Martinez played his part, as did his namesake Emiliano in the Argentina goal in stoppage time, denying Garang Kuol from close range, to help them hold on.
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez doubled that lead on the other side of the break, but the job was by no means done there, with Australia pulling one back late on after Craig Goodwin’s shot took a heavy deflection off Enzo Fernandez and found its way in.
It led to a nervy finish for the South Americans, but as mentioned above, United’s Martinez played his part, as did his namesake Emiliano in the Argentina goal in stoppage time, denying Garang Kuol from close range, to help them hold on.
The win sets them up for a last-eight contest, one in which Martinez will come up against a side represented by one of his Reds team-mates at the tournament.
Argentina will now face Tyrell Malacia and the Netherlands, after the latter defeated the United States 3-1 earlier in the day.
That meeting is set to be a 19:00 GMT kick-off on Friday, at the Lusail Stadium.
Argentina will now face Tyrell Malacia and the Netherlands, after the latter defeated the United States 3-1 earlier in the day.
That meeting is set to be a 19:00 GMT kick-off on Friday, at the Lusail Stadium.