Summary
Argentina will play in the round of 16 of the World Cup thanks to a 2-1 win over Nigeria in a group D match played on Tuesday night.
Argentina took a 1-0 advantage to the break. Messi picked a long ball looped by Ever Banega at the 15th and paced down to the right side of the box before shooting in the right corner of the net. He could have added the second goal minutes later but his free-kick after Di Maria got foul was tipped by Nigeria’s keeper and later hit the post.
Nigeria were awarded a penalty in the final half after Balogun was brought down by Mascherano. Moses had an easy time sending the keeper the wrong way and rolled the ball in the net at the 51st minute. Nigeria, however, failed to hold on and allowed Marcos Rojo to send a volley past the keeper.
Moments
7′ A huge roar goes up as Lionel Messi picks the ball up on halfway, he jinks inside some heavy traffic and is chopped down. Rough treatment for the number 10. Argentina then work it to left-back Nicolas Tagliafico but his shot is nowhere.
9′ A shot on goal, Nigeria hurl in a long throw which is nodded out and danger man Ahmed Musa gets one away from the edge of the box but it’s never on target. High and handsome.
15′ GOAL! A ball over the top finds Messi in space, his touch on his thigh is ridiculous, he takes another to swerve him away from the last defender and then he batters a right-footed shot across goal and into the roof of the net. Argentina lead 1-0.
34′ Strike! Lionel Messi puts his free-kick on the ‘wrong’ side of the wall, goes reverse to the side where the goalkeeper is standing, and smacks it against the post!
51′ Superb from Victor Moses who takes a Yakubu – just waits for Franco Armani to move and then slots home. A backflip with pike to follow. A bit of Celestine Babayaro. It’s a Nigerian greatest hits compilation. Nigeria level and, as it stands, are going to finish second!
86′ It’s not Messi or Aguero but Manchester United center-back Marcos Rojo who meets a right-wing cross with a brilliant right-footed volley into the corner! An incredible finish! What was he doing there? Jorge Sampaoli is on the pitch, Maradona is off the leash…
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