Lionel Messi scores 91st Argentina goal ahead of World Cup in 5-0 friendly rout of UAE
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Lionel Messi was on target as Argentina warmed up for the World Cup 2022 with a 5-0 rout of the United Arab Emirates.
Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez opened the scoring after being teed-up by Messi in the 17th minute before Angel Di Maria netted a quick-fire brace.
Messi then struck his 91st goal for his country and Joaquin Correa added a fifth on the hour mark as one of the favourites for the tournament in Qatar played their final match before the Group C opener against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Croatia, runners-up in 2018, won Wednesday night’s only match featuring two Qatar-bound countries as they edged out Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Riyadh.
The cagey contest was finally settled in the 84th minute when substitute Andrej Kramaric struck the winner.
Niclas Fullkrug’s debut goal earned Germany a 1-0 victory over Oman in Muscat.
The 29-year-old Werder Bremen forward was teed-up by Chelsea’s Kai Havertz to score the only goal with 10 minutes remaining.
No. 9️⃣ 👟💥#OMNGER 0-1 pic.twitter.com/YlLmdrr7UP
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 16, 2022
Borussia Dortmund forward Youssoufa Moukoko, at 17 years and 361 days old, became Germany’s youngest debutant since 1954.
Poland left it late to clinch a 1-0 victory over Chile in Warsaw.
It was a closely-fought battle, but neither side could find a breakthrough until Krzysztof Piatek fired home following a corner with five minutes left.
Elsewhere, Qatar-bound Mexico were beaten 2-1 by Sweden in Spain.