Messi magic off the bench as Argentina cruise into knockouts with perfect record

Lionel Messi's Argentina are one of just three teams to move to the knockout round with a perfect win record as they defeated Joran 3-1 in Dallas. With the top spot in Group J already secured, Lionel Scaloni made nine changes, which included putting Messi on the bench.

Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso opened the scoring when he curled in a beautiful 20-yard free-kick in the 19th minute. Argentina were awarded a penalty following a VAR review of Ehsan Haddad's dangerous challenge on Marcos Senesi, where he kicked his head. Lautaro Martinez stepped up to score his maiden World Cup goal from the penalty spot.

But Jordan fought back in the second stanza. Haddad's accurate low cross was stylishly stabbed home by the sliding Musa Al-Tamaari on the 55-minute mark. That brought Messi off the bench and of course he delivered, guiding home a low free kick for a record-extending 19th World Cup goal.

Scaloni was pleased with the performance of several players who hadn't yet featured in the global showpiece.

"It's a very positive opinion that I have, especially as I was able to include all the players, this was a goal we always set for ourselves," the manager told Reuters.

"I believe all of them deserve to enjoy coming to a World Cup and playing at a World Cup and we were able to give them minutes. I think they played quite well in a difficult match. They showed me today that I can count on them."

Argentina now face World Cup surprise package Cape Verde in the Round of 32.

Earlier at Kansas City Stadium, Algeria and Austria played to a thrilling 3-3 draw with both teams netting in stoppage time.

Austria broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when David Alaba collected the ball just inside his own half before he spotted Marko Arnautovic breaking the line, executed an exquisite pass that left the striker the easy task of sliding the ball past Algeria goalkeeper Oussama Benbot.

Algeria got one back just before the break.  Rafik Belghal picked up the ball just outside the area, drifted inside the box and rolled the ball past two defenders before smashing the ball into the roof of the net in a piece of individual brilliance.

And the goals kept coming. Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer benefited from a perfect cut back to snatch back the lead, but then Houssem Aouar dribbled into the box and found Riyad Mahrez unmarked at the back post for the equaliser five minutes later.

Mahrez got his brace in the 93rd minute with a low finish, which appeared to end Austria's World Cup campaign. But Sasa Kalajdzic popped up to send the Austrian fans into ecstasy as he headed home after the allotted stoppage time.

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