Two goals from Lautaro Martinez and Sergio Aguero have saved soccer superstar Lionel Messi and his country Argentina from a looming embarrassing early exit in the Copa America fiesta.
They were in the bottom of Group B but the goals have taken them from the dungeon of Group B to the second and into a quarter-final meeting with Venezuela on Friday at Rio’s Maracana stadium.
Even the almighty Messi admitted that they faced a tough task.
“It’s tough playing this kind of game due to the necessity, the obligation (to win), the fear of missing out.
“But beyond that we played well and went through, which is what matters,” he said.
He, however, told the AFP that the important thing was to win.
“The important thing was to win to keep going in the Copa, to get through the group stage. This will be an important boost for what’s to come … another Copa begins now.
“This victory must give us strength and make us grow as a team.”
AAguero was also quoted as saying the Qatar boys were stiff:
“Luckily I was picked to start and luckily at times the three of us worked well together and we won. They’re quite tough opponents who counter-attack really well and we’ll try to be wise to that.”
