Argentina completed a perfect three-game sweep of World Cup Group J on Saturday night by defeating Jordan 3-1 at a stadium in Arlington, Texas, to advance into the round of 32.
The defending champions rested nine regular starters, including captain Lionel Messi, but secured the victory through goals from Giovani Lo Celso, Lautaro Martinez, and a late second-half strike from Messi himself after he substituted into the match.
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Match Highlights
Lo Celso opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a direct free kick into the right corner of the net, marking his first career World Cup goal during his first tournament start.
The opening goal involved a tactical maneuver directed by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from the midfield line, where he signaled teammates Marcos Senesi, Giovanni Simeone, and Nicolás Otamendi to screen the vision of Jordanian goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.
Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead in the 31st minute by converting a penalty kick that was awarded via a VAR review after Julian Alvarez took a kick to the face following a shot that hit the crossbar.
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Jordan, ranked 72nd globally, responded in the 55th minute when substitute Mousa Altamari scored, though the team was ultimately eliminated from the tournament after losing all three group matches.
Messi entered the game in the 60th minute for Lautaro Martinez and scored on a low free kick in the 80th minute, marking his 19th career World Cup goal and making him the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
The victory marks the fifth time Argentina has won all its group stage matches, keeping the squad at the top of Group J with nine points alongside France and Mexico as the only teams to achieve maximum points.
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Argentina is scheduled to play its round of 32 knockout match against Cape Verde on Friday in Miami, Florida.
