90’+4’Second Half ends, Argentina 2, Australia 0.90’+3’Attempt blocked. Rodrigo de Paul (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lionel Messi.90’+2’Attempt missed. Emiliano Martínez (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi.90’+1’Attempt saved. Emiliano Martínez (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi.90’Attempt missed. Lucas Ocampos (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi.Lionel Messi Scores Fastest Career Goal as Argentina Beat Australia
Lionel Messi scored his fastest career goal as Argentina comfortably beat Australia in a friendly match in Beijing. Captain Messi, 35, opened the scoring after one minute and 19 seconds, curling a finish into the top left corner from the edge of the box. Substitute German Pezzella doubled the world champions’ lead with a header in the 68th minute.
Australia had a first-half effort pushed onto the post by Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. But Argentina always looked comfortable in Messi’s first match since agreeing to join American side Inter Miami.
## Argentina Line-up
Argentina lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Emiliano Martínez in goal, Milton Molina, Nicolas Romero, Nicolas Otamendi and Renzo Acuña in defence, Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Fernández and Gonzalo González in midfield and Lionel Messi and Matias Mac Allister up front.
Substitutes included Juan Foyth, Franco Paredes, Lucas Ocampos, Paulo Dybala, Lautaro Martinez and Exequiel Palacios.
## Australia Line-up
Australia lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Ryan in goal, Rhyan Atikinson, Harry Souttar, Alex Rowles and Bailey Bos in defence, Jackson Leckie, Steven Baccus, Aaron O’Neill and Riley McGree in midfield and Mitchell Duke and Jamie Maclaren up front.
Substitutes included Thomas Strain, Thomas Metcalfe, Daniel Hrustic, Brandon Borrello, Ryan Glover, Keanu Baccus and Brandon Genreau.
## Match Summary
The match started with a bang as Messi opened the scoring after just one minute and 19 seconds with a curling finish into the top left corner from the edge of the box. Argentina looked comfortable throughout the match and had several chances to extend their lead but were unable to find the back of the net until Pezzella headed home from close range in the 68th minute to make it 2-0.
Australia had a first-half effort pushed onto the post by Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez but were unable to find a way past Argentina’s defence. The match ended 2-0 to Argentina with Messi’s goal proving to be the difference between the two sides.
## Conclusion
Lionel Messi scored his fastest career goal as Argentina comfortably beat Australia in a friendly match in Beijing. Substitute German Pezzella doubled the world champions’ lead with a header in the 68th minute to secure a 2-0 victory for Argentina. The match was Messi’s first since agreeing to join American side Inter Miami and he proved to be the difference between the two sides with his early goal proving to be decisive.