Argentina beat Australia 2-1 to reach quarter-finals of FIFA World Cup Lionel Messi scored on his 1000 th career appearance in Argentina's 2-1 victory over Australia at the World Cup on Saturday to surpass his great precursor Diego Maradona's event aggregate and set up a quarter-final clash with the Netherlands. The 35-year-old Messi's goal was his third in the Qatar event and his ninth at World Cups, one further than Maradona. The Netherlands were the first platoon to bespeak the last eight's tickets in Qatar, beating USA 3-1 in the first knockout game on Saturday. Argentina went into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead, courtesy to Messi's 35th minute strike, before Julian Alvarez doubled the advantage beforehand in the next half. Alvarez's 57th minute thing gave Argentina breathing space in a match dominated by the South American side. Australia however gave a dread to the two- time titleholders with a thing in the 77th minute of the match, when Craig Goodwin's shot was veered off Enzo Fernandez's face for an own goal. There were late scares for Argentina after Craig Goodwin's shot deflected in off Enzo Fernandez, and it demanded a dramatic save from Lisandro Martinez and a fine save from Emiliano Martinez for them to hold on. It was a spirited trouble from Graham Arnold's side, who can be proud of their event, but it's Messi and Argentina who'll face the Netherlands in the last eight. This isn't always a fluent Argentina side but with the little genius in the platoon they can conjure.