DOHA: Lionel Messi produced a moment of trademark quality to score the opener in a 2-1 win over Australia and send Argentina into the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Saturday. Messi's 789th goal in his 1,000th career appearance -- but first in the knockout rounds of the World Cup -- helped set up a last-eight clash with the unbeaten Netherlands on Friday.

Julian Alvarez scored the other in the 57th minute after some calamitous Australian defending, before Enzo Fernandez's 77th-minute own goal set up an unexpectedly nervy finale.