MESSI BREAKS ANOTHER RECORD AS ARGENTINA MAINTAIN PERFECT FORM
Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches as he came off the bench to help Argentina beat a spirited Jordan 3-1.
Giovani Lo Celso thought he had given his side the lead early on when he ran in behind and slotted home, but was denied by the offside flag.
However, Lo Celso wasn't to be kept off the score-sheet 10 minutes later, when he wrong-footed goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Laila with a curling free-kick into the top corner.
Argentina hit the bar twice within seconds as they piled on the pressure, but it did not matter as Marcos Senesi was fouled in the midst of the second effort to win a penalty, which Lautaro Martinez emphatically finished.
The much-changed holders took their foot off the gas in the second half and were duly punished as Mousa Tamari started and finished a brilliant Jordan team move to half the deficit.
The introduction of Messi brought loud cheers around Hard Rock Stadium, and he repaid the faith of the fans in the city where he plays.
He converted a free-kick, Abu Laila being wrong-footed in even more embarrassing fashion, to take his tally for the tournament to six goals as he leads the Golden Boot race.
Messi has now struck in seven straight World Cup games - the three group fixtures in North America, following his knockout run to glory four years ago.
Argentina face minnows Cabo Verde in the last 32, while Austria and Algeria also make it out of Group J in dramatic fashion after playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw.
05:09
05:09
CONFIRMED ROUND OF 32 TIES
Jun 29 21:30 – Germany v Paraguay Jun 30 22:00 – France v Sweden Jun 28 20:00 – South Africa v Canada Jun 30 02:00 – Netherlands v Morocco Jul 3 00:00 – Portugal v Croatia Jul 2 20:00 – Spain v Austria Jul 2 01:00 – USA v Bosnia Jul 1 21:00 – Belgium v Senegal Jun 29 18:00 – Brazil v Japan Jun 30 18:00 – Cote d’Ivoire v Norway July 1 02:00 – Mexico v Ecuador July 1 17:00 – England v DR Congo July 3 23:00 – Argentina v Cape Verde July 3 19:00 – Australia v Egypt July 3 04:00 – Switzerland v Algeria July 4 02:30 – Colombia v Ghana
05:01
05:01
WHAT NEXT FOR ARGENTINA?
Argentina will relish their draw.
They face Cape Verde in the last 32, and their route to the final looks otherwise calm, most likely facing Egypt, Colombia and potentially England or Brazil in the semi-finals.
04:59
04:59
MORE DRAMA IN KANSAS CITY!
Austria have equalised!
Sasa Kalajdzic has detted at the death to rescue his team and eliminate Iran!
Austria will now play Spain while Algeria are set to face Switzerland.
04:58
Full time
04:58
FULL TIME! JORDAN 1-3 ARGENTINA
All over!
Argentina march into the knockouts with a perfect record and Lionel Messi unable to stop scoring goals.
Jordan exit their debut World Cup without a point but can take pride in their performances, scoring in every game.
90+4'
90+4'
ALGERIA GET LATE GOAL AGAINST AUSTRIA
HUGE LATE GOAL IN KANSAS CITY!!!
Riyad Mahrez has just given Algeria the lead! That lifts them up to second and eliminates Austria!
And that means that Iran are set to qualify.
90+3'
90+3'
JORDAN WASTE RARE CORNER
Five minutes added on as Lionel Messi puts a dangerous ball in but the flag goes up.
Jordan bully Valentin Barco off the ball and win a corner. Mahmoud Al Mardi delivers but it's headed clear.
90'
90'
INJURY WORRY FOR JORDAN
It's been a quiet few minutes, though Lionel Messi still threatens from corners.
He has a free-kick out wide now, but there's an injury for one of the Jordanian players.
Hassan Adbudahab needs to be stretchered off, and Ali Olwan also departs. On come Saleem Obaid and Mohammad Abu Zrayq
Substitution in
M. Abu ZrayqJordan
Substitution out
A. OlwanJordan
82'
82'
MESSI BREAKS ANOTHER RECORD
Messi has scored far, far better goals in his illustrious career but he has also set another record: the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
Here's Argentina's final sub. Julian Alvarez comes off for Jose Manuel Lopez.
Substitution in
J. LópezArgentina
Substitution out
J. ÁlvarezArgentina
80'
80'
GOAL! JORDAN 1-3 ARGENTINA (MESSI)
Lionel Messi wins another free-kick, this one in a much better area than the last attempt.
And once again, the keeper is wrong-footed as Messi side-foots it into the bottom corner!
Goal
L. MessiArgentina
78'
78'
TWO MORE SUBSTITUTIONS
One more sub for each side. Nizar Al Rashdan is replaced by Amer Jamous.
Meanwhile, Argentina take off Giuliano Simeone. He is replaced by Valentin Barco.
Barco leads an attack forward, but it fizzles into nothing as Argentina settle for keeping possession.
Substitution in
A. JamousJordan
Substitution out
N. Al-RashdanJordan
73'
73'
MATCH PETERING OUT
Back underway and more of the same I'm afraid, as Argentina knock the ball about.
Jordan seem satisfied with their goal, Argentina seem satisfied with three points.
68'
68'
HYDRATION BREAK
Quiet from Argentina since they have made those subs.
66'
66'
MESSI PUTS FREE-KICK OVER THE BAR
Alexis Mac Allister is fouled, giving Argentina a free-kick in a promising position. Yazan Al Arab gets booked for his troubles too.
Of course, it's Lionel Messi over it.
Over the bar.
Yellow card
Y. Al-ArabJordan
64'
64'
ALGERIA BACK LEVEL AND GOING THROUGH, IRAN HEADING OUT
It's as you were in Kansas City as Riyad Mahrez has bagged a quickfire equaliser.
GROUP J AS IT STANDS
Jordan 1-2 Argentina Algeria 1-2 Austria
1. Argentina 9 points, +7 goal difference 2. Austria 4, 0 3. Algeria 4, -2 4. Jordan 0, -5
Algeria will qualify in third place, as Iran get eliminated
61'
61'
MESSI ON FOR ARGENTINA
Giovani Lo Celso takes a tumble, and seems in a lot of bother, clutching his foot on the edge of the area.
However, he looks fine once he realises he's not getting a penalty or even free-kick.
Here come the subs. Off go Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez. They are replaced by Thiago Almada and, much to the crowd's delight, Lionel Messi.
Alexis Mac Allister also replaces Nico Paz
Substitution in
L. MessiArgentina
Substitution out
L. MartínezArgentina
59'
59'
AUSTRIA RETAKE LEAD, ALGERIA GOING OUT
Lionel Messi is ready to come on. Argentina might need him to do a job here!
Elsewhere, Marcel Sabitzer has restored Austria's lead. Here's what it means:
GROUP J AS IT STANDS
Jordan 1-2 Argentina Algeria 1-2 Austria
1. Argentina 9 points, +7 goal difference 2. Austria 6, +1 3. Algeria 3, -3 4. Jordan 0, -5
Algeria will be eliminated, with Iran qualifying in the final third place spot.
56'
56'
GOAL! JORDAN 1-2 ARGENTINA (AL TAMARI)
Wow! This is a quality goal!
Mousa Al Tamari is central to some tiki taka football as he works the ball out wide to Ehsan Haddad.
The skipper fizzes the ball back to Al Tamari inside the box who drifts in behind and converts into the top corner!
Goal
M. TamariJordan
54'
54'
LAUTARO MARTINEZ HITS WOODWORK
Jordan enjoy a brief spell of possession but then try and force it wide to Mousa Al Tamari who can't keep it in.
Now Lo Celso drives forward and Lautaro Martinez lets fly from range. It was dipping and does clip the top of the crossbar!
49'
49'
LO CELSO GETS ANOTHER GOAL RULED OUT FOR OFFSIDE
Giuliano Simeone tries to get through on the right hand side, but Yazan Al Arab comes across to sweep up the danger.
Giovani Lo Celso thinks he has his second goal, but it's just his second offside goal.
Lautaro Martinez goes through on goal and rounds the keeper, but goes wide, so squares to Lo Celso who converts into the empty net. However, Martinez was offside.