Alexis Mac Allister helped put Argentina back on World Cup course tonight.

He played the first three-quarters of their precious 2-0 win over Mexico.

It was a tense night until Enzo Fernandez curled home a superb second goal very late on and, at times, Mac Allister seemed the most likely to impose some much-needed tempo

The Argus:

The Albion man came into midfield as one of five changes to the XI which started the defeat by Saudi Arabia.

It was a huge occasion for Argentina but two of his passes early on defied any nerves.

There was a flick around the corner, which did not come off.

Then a lofted crossfield pass deep in his own half, which did.

Mexico were the livelier team early on but it soon descended into an untidy tussle.

Mac Allister was at times at the heart of midfield, looking to get on the ball and make space for others.

He was involved three times in Argentina’s best move of the half, just before the interval.

Nice footwork and a clever reverse pass released Lionel Messi to win a dangerous free-kick five minutes into the second period.

But the skipper chipped the set-piece tamely over the bar.

When Mac Allister followed up a pass by breaking into the box, Angel Di Maria’s low cross was scrambled away from him by a defender.

But Messi made the breakthrough with an irresistible low drive from outside the box on 64 minutes.

Mac Allister and Di Maria went off in the 69th minute.

It was Mac Allister's ninth cap and he remains unbeaten in an Argentina shirt