Argentina beat Australia 2-1, advance to face Netherlands in quarter-finals: Live updates and reaction
Buenos Aires loves Emi Martinez
Phew! That got close at the end but, in fairness, largely because Lautaro Martínez looks like he’s never seen a goal before.
Messi did all he could to drag his team to a third goal, and he put two on a plate for Martínez, but those chances went begging.
In the end, there were chants here in Buenos Aires for Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez, who pulled off a fine save in the dying seconds. There’s a big cheeseburger named after him here, it should sell well tonight.
It was another Martínez, Lisandro, who saved another certain goal with a superb tackle not long beforehand.
So it was nervy here towards the end, but Argentina did more than enough to win, and it seemed the thousands of fans here in Buenos Aires knew it - they never seemed that concerned. Maybe that comes with having Messi on your team.
How far can Messi carry this team?
Well, at least we all got to see Lionel Messi score at least once more at the World Cup, then?
The Netherlands were solid against the USA, but it will be an entirely different prospect when they are trying to defend against Messi.
This Argentina side has flaws, no doubt, but they also have a once-in-a-generation talent who can pretty much win matches by himself. That is why they are genuine contenders to not only go very deep in
Argentina advances to the quarter-finals for the first time in eight years, after falling to France at this stage last time around.
Australia matched their best-ever result at the World Cup - equaling their Round of 16 performance from 2006 - but couldn't set a new mark by going one round further.
That was some dramatic ending!
A spin and shot in the box from Kuol and the 18-year-old comes so close to forcing extra-time and announcing himself on the world stage. Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for Argentina, Emi Martinez stuck out his left hand to make a wonderful save and thwart him.
Still, Newcastle fans will be encouraged by the way he pounced, turned and shot in the box. He has something about him.
No consolation for Australia right now, though.
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