Iceland held Argentina to a 1-1 draw this afternoon, with Lionel Messi missing a penalty to put his country ahead. With a dentist as coach, Iceland frustrated the South American giants with a calm display that betrayed the fact that they are in their first ever World Cup.
Argentina controlled the game from start and went close on two occasions with a flurry of free kicks delivered by Messi, but Iceland almost took the lead on 9 minutes through Bjarnason who found the side netting after Argentina failed in their attempt to play out from the back with the World Cup debutants putting the 2014 finalists under pressure. The Albiceleste however went ahead on 19 minutes through Sergio Aguero. The Manchester City striker controlled Marcus Rojo’s cross-cum-shot, swiveled and directed a bullet shot beyond the goalkeeper for a deserved lead.
Argentina were in total control and continued to threaten, but Iceland equalized halfway into the half against the run of play in ice-cold fashion. Gyfil Sigurdson’s deflected cross was pushed out by Caballero under pressure from Bjarnason, and striker Finnbogason dispatched the loose ball into an unguarded net for the tiny European nation’s first ever goal in their maiden World Cup appearance.
Despite the setback, Jorge Sampaoli’s team, with Messi as conductor, continued to dominate all through the first half with over 70% possession, and could have gotten a penalty for an innocuous handball by falling Iceland defender, Saevarsson, which could not be avoided, and the referee agreed to continue play. Iceland, however, had the last say of the half with two good chances for an unlikely lead but Caballero stopped the first, while playmaker, Sigurdsson blasted wide at the end of an entertaining first.
The second half continued just like the first, with Messi given little time and space on the ball despite his team’s dominance. The weight of expectation rested upon him and in the aftermath of Cristiano Ronaldo’s hattrick heroics last night, the 30-year old Barcelona forward was expected to match or outshine his eternal rival. He got the perfect opportunity when Meza was brought down clumsily for a penalty on 63 minutes. He stepped up but was excellently thwarted by goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson. The mercurial forward had several chances at redemption, the highlight was a curling shot from distance narrowly missing target by inches on 80 minutes.
Argentina laid siege to Iceland goal through Mascherano, Mesa and Messi’s chanches, the latter who had the opportunity of equalizing with the last kick of the game from a free kick, but the diminutive forward could not beat the wall.
The final whistle brought Messi to tears while the Iceland team and fans celebrated with their signature viking clap. It’s Nigeria next for Iceland, while Messi will seek redemption against Modric-led Croatia.
No comments:
Post a Comment