ARGENTINA'S LIONEL MESSI, HELD BACK WHILE HE RECOVERED FROM INJURY, TOOK ONLY THREE MINUTES TO STAMP HIS MARK ON THE 2006 WORLD CUP WHEN THE 18-YEAR-OLD SET UP ARGENTINA'S FOURTH GOAL IN A 6-0 ROUT OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO ON FRIDAY. THE BARCELONA STAR, WHO TURNS 19 IN A WEEK, CAME ON AS A 75TH- MINUTE SUBSTITUTE WITH THE SOUTH AMERICANS LEADING 3-0 TO CUT IN AND SLIP THE BALL THROUGH A FOREST OF LEGS TO HERNAN CRESPO FOR ARGENTINA'S FOURTH. MESSI, WHO HAS STRUGGLED WITH A THIGH INJURY SINCE MARCH, THEN PUT THE ICING ON THE CAKE WITH ARGENTINA'S SIXTH WHEN HE RACED IN AND COOLLY SHOT HOME. ARGENTINA COACH JOSE PEKERMAN, WHO HAD DELAYED PLAYING MESSI WHILE HE RECOVERED FROM A KNOCK TO A FOOT SUSTAINED IN TRAINING, RAISED HIS ARMS AS THE MAN REGARDED AS THE NEW DIEGO MARADONA COMPLETED THE SOUTH AMERICAN ROUT. "IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE TO PLAY IN THE WORLD CUP. I HAVE TO ADMIT IT'S HARD SITTING ON THE BENCH BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A STRONG SQUAD YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT'S PART OF A TOURNAMENT," MESSI SAID AFTERWARDS. "WE'RE FEELING REALLY CONFIDENT BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO STAY CONCENTRATED AND KNOCK-OUT GAMES ARE SO UNPREDICTABLE." THE WIN EQUALLED ARGENTINA'S BEST-EVER WORLD CUP TRIUMPH AGAINST PERU IN 1978, WHEN THEY WON THE FIRST OF TWO TITLES. ARGENTINA OPENED WITH A 2-1 WIN OVER IVORY COAST AND FRIDAY'S WIN PUT THEM INTO THE SECOND ROUND CLASH WITH PROBABLY MEXICO OR PORTUGAL.
