(Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout round in his 1,000th match to beat Diego Maradona's tournament tally, as Argentina beat off a frenzied Australia fightback to win 2-1 on Saturday and reach the quarter-finals. Man of the match Messi admitted the final moments were tense. "Things got complicated in the end with their goal but it's a World Cup and it's never easy," Messi said. "If a World Cup has been tough from the start, it gets even tougher at this stage." Argentina defender Nahuel Molina said the win was all about Messi.
