Having lost their only previous H2H 2-0 back in May 2006 in the build-up to their first and only ever FIFA World Cup (WC) appearance, 89th-ranked Angola had a point to prove here.
An energetic start to proceedings saw Argentina come under some early pressure, with Chico Banza nearly clipping a ball over Geronimo Rulli, who did well to tip it away from danger.
In the squad the last time these two nations faced off, Lionel Messi looked set to open the scoring in the 19th minute, but a top save from Hugo Marques denied the captain from the edge of the box.
Angola were holding their own against a star-studded Argentina XI, with Banza looking particularly lively, but they were fortunate not to fall behind when Messi uncharacteristically ballooned a side-footed effort off-target from a promising position.
Albiceleste head coach Lionel Scaloni was also among the substitutes in the last H2H, and it looked as if his side would be going in level at the break, yet with half-time approaching, Messi slipped in Lautaro Martínez, who squeezed a first-time low shot through Hugo Marques’s legs to break the deadlock.
Going behind was unlikely to dampen the party atmosphere in Luanda, and the hosts gave their fans plenty to cheer about as they remained in the contest beyond the hour mark, even threatening an equaliser when Zito Luvumbo guided To Carneiro’s fizzed low cross wide.
Neither Messi nor his teammates had much impact for much of the second period, yet with 82 minutes on the clock, the Albiceleste’s all-time top scorer sealed the result. After jinking his way towards goal, Messi was dispossessed by Jonathan Buatu’s sliding challenge, only to regain possession and rifle home moments later for his 20th goal contribution in his last eight games for club and country (G11, A9).
After finishing fourth in their qualifying group (W2, D6, L2), Angola will not be at the World Cup next year, with the African side having now won just twice in their last 10 games (D4, L4). Meanwhile, Argentina will be looking to defend their world champion status, and a seventh win from nine games in 2025 will do them no harm as they prepare for next summer’s showpiece.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
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