Argentina vs Jamaica result, score: Lionel Messi scores two more goals as unbeaten run reaches 35

Simon Borg

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Argentina vs Jamaica result, score: Lionel Messi scores two more goals as unbeaten run reaches 35 image

Who can stop Lionel Messi and Argentina? Their unbeaten streak has reached 35 matches after a 3-0 win over Jamaica on Tuesday at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, as Messi came off the bench to score two goals and send the pro-Argentina crowd home happy.

The 35-year-old superstar didn't start the match with reports that he was feeling under the weather earlier in the day, but he subbed on with about 30 minutes remaining and he brought a spark to a match that desperately needed one. 

Both of Messi's goals were solo efforts. The first was a left-footed shot from outside the box which was strong enough to get past experienced Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake.

Just two minutes later Messi beat Blake again with another hard, low shot on a set piece, which he also earned himself.

Jamaica started out strong, but Argentina's quality came through including on the opening goal by Manchester City's Julian Alvarez after just 13 minutes. Alvarez, who replaced Messi in the starting lineup, showed a goal scorer's instincts by running onto a Lautaro Martinez cross and deflecting it into the net. 

The match lacked rhythm in the first 60 minutes. Argentina's best moments came when they tried to accelerate through Angel Di Maria wide right or Alvarez wide left, but there was little end product despite their best efforts.

Jamaica were hanging around, and Argentina center-backs Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi stayed busy chasing West Ham's Michail Antonio and Spartak Moscow's Shamar Nicholson.

Then Messi entered the match and changed the game with a handful of brilliant moments. Messi was also the focus of three different field invasions by fans with security needing to intervene each time.

The match was Argentina's final tuneup match before the final roster for the 2022 World Cup will be named. The Albiceleste play their first World Cup Group C match on Nov. 22 against Saudi Arabia. Prior to that match, they will play a warmup match against the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 16.

MORE: Argentina unbeaten run nearing Italy record streak

Argentina vs Jamaica final score

  1H 2H Final
Argentina 1 2 3
Jamaica 0 0 0

Goals:
ARG — Julian Alvarez (Lautaro Martinez) — 13th min.
ARG — Lionel Messi — 87th min.
ARG — Lionel Messi — 89th min.

Argentina vs Jamaica live updates, highlights from friendly

Final: Argentina 3, Jamaica 0

89th min.: Goal Argentina! Again it's Messi! He earns a free kick and takes it himself. It's as low shot that might have taken a slight deflection. And it beat Blake again.

87th min.: Goal Argentina! Goal Messi! He makes it look so simple. He controls the ball near the top of the box and then unleashes a left-footed shot that beats Blake.

And there's another pitch invader who broke through. This is what happened to him.

83rd min.: Argentina chance! Messi gets the crowd excited again, weaving his way into the box and then firing at goal. Another secure save from goalkeeper Andre Blake.

78th min.: SUBS. Lisandro Martinez (for Angel Di Maria), Joaquin Correa (for Julian Alvarez), and Nahuel Molina (for Gonzalo Montiel)

72nd min.: SUB Argentina. Rodrigo De Paul is in for Alexis Mac Allister. The Albiceleste have a strong lineup to close this match.

68th min.: Messi against Jamaica all by himself on the left. But Jamaica 'keeper Andre Blake comes up with the stop for a corner that goes to waste.

65th min.: Pause in the match due to a pitch invader, who was just waiting for Messi to get in the game.

55th min.: SUBS Argentina. Lionel Messi is in for Lautaro Martinez and Enzo Fernandez replaces Guido Rodriguez. Alexis Mac Allister is likely to operate in the deep central position.

53rd min.: Chance Argentina! The first real opportunity of the second half. Julian Alvarez involved in the buildup once again with a sharp pass into Lautaro Martinez and the Inter Milan forward blasts it high. It was a good look.

46th min.: The second half is underway. No changes from either side. Will we see Lionel Messi at some point? Can't believe he'd let down this pro-Argentina crowd.

Halftime: Argentina 1, Jamaica 0

Halftime: It's been an efficient half from Argentina who turn it up every now and then, but they know they're superior and that it's going to be difficult for Jamaica to cause them any issues.

That superior quality was display on the Julian Alvarez goal. His run in the middle of the box was timely as the Lautaro Martinez cross came in. Alvarez has a knack for making the right movements in attack, and he's an honest player who puts in the work. He was rewarded with the goal and he got to do his Spider-man celebration (below).

47th+ min.: Jamaica chance. On a set piece from the left side, Damion Lowe gets a head on the ball, flicking the ball dangerously wide.

It's been a choppy end to the first half with long stoppages in play with Jamaican players staying on the ground. Neither team seems to be wanting to speed things up.

34th min.: Ravel Morrison risks a second yellow. He goes in recklessly on Cristian Romero. That could've been a second caution.

That incident came shortly after an attempt from distance by Giovani Lo Celso who barely missed the target. Argentina are managing this game comfortably.

28th min.: Argentina chance! Guido Rodriguez has a look in the Jamaica box on a corner kick, but can't get clean contact on the ball and his deflection finishes off the mark.

As the minutes go by, Argentina are increasingly taking control of this game. Jamaica are not clean enough with the ball and they can't sustain possession. Argentina is just waiting for the mistake.

24th min.: The goal has taken some of the bite out of Jamaica and the Reggae Boyz are on their heels a bit more. Argentina continue to look for Di Maria, who's very involved. 

Alexis Mac Allister hasn't been very involved to start and he's just switched sides in central midfield with Giovani Lo Celso.

13th min.: Goal Argentina! Lautaro Martinez goes on a dribbling run in the box and his short cross finds Julian Alvarez in stride in the middle of the box.

10th min.: Yellow card to Ravel Morrison of Jamaica. It's a second late tackle on Guido Rodriguez and this time the ref punishes him.

Argentina are moving quickly upfield, looking for Angel Di Maria on the right or Julian Alvarez on the left. Jamaica are looking for their two center forwards.

5th min.: Argentina chance! Andre Blake with an early save against Angel Di Maria. Argentina earn a corner after a follow-up shot is deflected out, but nothing comes of it.

1st min.: Jamaica kick us off and "Argentina, Argentina" chants come raining down. No question who the home team will be tonight.

5 mins from kickoff: Time for anthems, beginning with Jamaica's.

10 mins from kickoff: The Jamaica manager Heimir Hallgrimsson coached Iceland against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup and pulled off a 1-1 draw.

60 mins from kickoff: The big news is that Lionel Messi will not be in the starting lineup tonight due to illness. Manchester City's Julian Alvarez replaces him. We'll see if he comes off the bench.

Argentina vs Jamaica lineups

Plenty of changes for Argentina compared to their last outing against Honduras with new faces in goal, at center-back, in midfield, and at forward with Angel Di Maria and Julian Alvarez in the game. Alvarez replaces Messi.

Argentina starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 23-Dibu Martinez (GK) — 4-Montiel, 13-Romero, 19-Otamendi, 3-Tagliafico — 15-Mac Allister, 18-G. Rodriguez, 20-Lo Celso — 11-Di Maria, 22-Martinez, 9-Alvarez

Argentina subs (14): 1-Armani, 12-Rulli (GK), 2-Medina, 14-Fernandez, 26-Nahuel Molina, 17-Perez, 25-Lisandro Martinez, 6-Pezzella, 5-Paredes, 7-De Paul, 8-Almada, 10-Messi, 16-J. Correa, 24-A. Correa

It's a near full-strength team for Jamaica with the forward pair of Michail Antonio and Shamar Nicholson who will be a handful for Argentina's defenders. Bobby Reid and Leon Bailey will provide them the service from wide positions, and captain Andre Blake will look to stand on his head to keep Argentina off the board.

Jamaica starting lineup (4-4-2, right to left): 1-Andre Blake (GK) — 21-Javain Brown, 17-Damion Lowe, 19-Adrian Mariappa, 4-Amari'i Bell — 7-Leon Bailey, 8-Daniel Johnson, 10-Ravel Morrison, 14-Bobby Reid — 11-Shamar Nicholson, 18-Michail Antonio

Jamaica subs: 3-Topey, 5-Thomas, 6-Tilt, 9-Lowe, 12-Foster, 13-Barnes, 15-Parris, 16-Gray, 20-Howell, 22-Lambert, 23-Waite

MORE: Messi scores twice in victory over Honduras

Argentina vs Jamaica TV channel, live stream

  UK USA Canada Australia
Date Tues, Sept. 27 Tues, Sept. 27 Tues, Sept. 27 Wed, Sept. 28
Time 01:00 ET 20:00 ET 20:00 ET 10:00 AET
TV channel — beIN Sports Xtra beIN Sports Xtra —
Streaming — fuboTV, beIN Connect fuboTV Canada, beIN Connect —

UK & Australia: The match will not be televised in the UK and Australia

USA: The match will be televised by beIN Sports Xtra, which is streamed on fuboTV.

Canada: Similar to the USA, the match will be televised on beIN Sports Xtra, which is also streamed on fuboTV Canada.

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.