Beijing friendly: Messi strikes in just 81 secs as Argentina beat Australia

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring against Australia in Beijing yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

Lionel Messi scored after barely a minute as he guided Argentina to a 2-0 friendly win over Australia in Beijing on Thursday. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner curled in from the edge of the area after just 81 seconds following slack defending by the Socceroos.

In front of a crowd of more than 50,000 adoring fans, Messi nearly notched a rapid second, but lashed into the side netting from a tight angle. Australia weathered the early storm and nearly equalised when attacker Mitchell Duke forced Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to tip a close-range shot onto the post. Messi and fellow Argentina veteran Angel di Maria both drew saves from Australia stopper Mat Ryan at the start of the second half.

The world champions eventually made their pressure count when German Pezzella headed in a cross to make it 2-0 (68th min). Messi is idolised in football-mad China, whose underperforming national team and struggling domestic league are chronic sources of disappointment.

Midway through the second half, a young fan wearing an Argentina shirt invaded the pitch and embraced Messi before being hauled away by security guards.

Thousands greeted the mercurial Argentina captain's every touch with roars of anticipation that built to a crescendo when he put his team into their quick-fire lead.

The enthusiastic fans had braved afternoon temperatures of nearly 40 degrees Celsius to gather at Beijing's newly renovated Workers' Stadium a full three hours before the 8 pm (1200 GMT) kick-off. Many donned replica shirts bearing Messi's name, while others wore blue-and-white face paint and waved miniature Argentina flags.

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