Brazil vs Argentina LIVE result: Lionel Messi goal enough to earn victory in Saudi Arabia
Final score: Brazil 0-1 Argentina
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Your support makes all the difference.Lionel Messi's solitary first-half goal was enough for Argentina to get the better of their old foe Brazil in Saudi Arabia.
Brazil had the first clear opportunity when Gabriel Jesus earned a penalty, but the Manchester City forward registered the fifth missed penalty of his young career, steering the ball wide of the post having sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Messi earned a penalty of his own a few minutes later when Alex Sandro tripped him in the box, although the contact appeared minimal. Messi got up to take the kick himself and although Alisson Becker saved his initial shot, the Liverpool keeper couldn't hold on to the ball and it squirmed loose for Messi to tap home.
Argentina were forced to dig deep at times in the second half although they also missed chances to wrap up the match. Re-live the game in Riyadh:
PREVIEW
When is it?
The match kicks off on Friday 15th November at 5pm (GMT), or 8pm local time.
How can I watch it?
The match will not be shown on UK television but you can watch it on Fanatiz or beIN SPORTS in the United States.
Odds
Brazil 6/5
Draw 2/1
Argentina 21/10
15 min: Brazil 0-1 Argentina
A belting start to this one, then. Jesus wins a penalty and misses it. Messi wins a penalty and misses it, but he has the good sense to put it on target, and perhaps you earn your luck in this world.
19 min: Brazil 0-1 Argentina
Willian has just given the ball to Lionel Messi, which you would say is less than advisable, but it leads to very little.
Just had a look at a replay of the two penalties. Both were definitely fouls, for me, although you could argue both forwards could have stayed on their feet if they'd really wanted to. Both were terrible penalties really but Jesus's is unforgivable, slid a good metre wide of the right-hand post having done the hard part in sending the goalkeeper on holiday in the other direction.
25 min: Brazil 0-1 Argentina
Danilo is booked after clattering Lo Celso. It's a bit of a rake down the ankle and on to the boot.
29 min: Brazil 0-1 Argentina
Paqueta has a whack at goal from just inside the box after good play from Willian down the left, but he pulls it wide.
Ray Hudson is on commentary, by the way, and he's absolutely spectacular. He just described giving the ball to Messi as handing the keys to the bloodbank to Dracula. What an image. Quite literally a bloodbath. He's just compared Brazil and Argentina to the mongoose and the cobra. Not sure which is which but once again, a bloodbath.
37 min: Brazil 0-1 Argentina
There's been something of a lull in this one, as the game meanders towards half-time. Brazil are on top searching for an equaliser, but not searching particularly well, like my dad's feeble attempts to find his glasses.
41 min: Brazil 0-1 Argentina
Argentina try a little raid themselves but it ends with Tagliafico dribbling the ball out of play.
44 min: Brazil 0-1 Argentina
You don't see this very often. Lionel Messi dribbles free of the Brazil and defence but as he descends on the penalty area Alisson stands his ground and saves Messi's shot low to his left. It's rare that Messi would miss a chance like that.
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