Chinese fans cheer after Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi scores a goal in a friendly match against Australia on June 15, 2023, at Beijing Workers’ Stadium. Messi and his World Cup-winning teammates eased past Australia 2-0 in a thrilling night for fans. Photo: Xinhua

 
A Lionel Messi-led Argentina eased past Australia with a 2-0 win in Thursday’s match between the two sides at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner scored a stylish goal in just the second minute, making it the fastest goal in his career. German Pezzella added the second goal for Argentina in the second half.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said he was happy to see the fans’ enthusiasm in Beijing.

“They are passionate for us, which we are very proud of,” Scaloni told reporters after the match through an interpreter. “We’ve been preparing for the game for several days even though the players are on vacation after a long season.”

The much-anticipated game drew nationwide attention, as fans from as far as South China’s Guangdong Province and Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province traveled to Beijing for the match. 

The Workers’ Stadium was filled with fans wearing Argentina’s blue-and-white-striped jerseys, mostly with No.10 on the back. Official figures showed the attendance was 51,385, though some believe the number was higher, as the stadium’s capacity is 68,000.

Messi was the marquee attraction on the pitch, and Chinese fans used various ways to chant his name during the match, while some blew their African vuvuzela instruments.
It was Messi’s eighth visit to China since 2004. 

One fan went a bit too far as he invaded the pitch to hug Messi and ran over to Argentine keeper Emiliano Martinez, before being escorted away by security staff. Pitch invaders are rarely seen at football events in China, and fans inside the stadium took turns to take a photo with the young pitch invader.

Fans also voiced their dissatisfaction with the organizers, China Rainbow International Investment, due to the hefty prices for match tickets, which cost up to 4,800 yuan ($673). The company was booed throughout the stadium when its name was announced.

It was the first international match to be played at the newly rebuilt Workers’ Stadium since its inauguration in April.