Nigeria 1-2 Argentina
There was pandemonium at the Krestovsky Stadium tonight where a late Marcus Rojo stunner fired Argentina into the last 16.
Leo Messi scored a brilliant opener, which was cancelled out by Nigeria’s Victor Moses, and the Argentina dream looked over until Rojo’s last gasp saver.
Nigeria’s win over Iceland last week had re-ignited Argentina and Messi’s fading hopes of World Cup 2018 glory, and before the final Group D games kicked off, Argentina was favourites to join Croatia in the last 16. Our SBOBET odds offered 1.50 on Argentina to qualify with Nigeria at 2.70.
So it was all in Argentina’s hands, a situation they would have happily accepted after a 3-0 humiliation against Croatia. Lionel Messi, arguably the best player in the world, has always been stung by criticism of his national side, and missing a penalty against Iceland didn’t help.
So would this be his night?
The big team news concerned Messi’s strike partner, as Gonzalo Higuain was preferred to Sergio Aguero, much to the consternation of Argentina fans, who cheered their team but there were dissenting boos for the coach.
Highlights of the game
Gernot Rohr’s Super Eagles said they’d go hard on Argentina and try to compound their misery. After all, no matter how good he is we aren’t all here just to watch Messi. Nigeria had youth and power on their side epitomised by Leicester’s midfield man mountain Wilfred N’Didi, and Victor Moses, at 27 the second oldest player on the Super Eagle’s side.
Jorge Sampaoli’s team kicked off the game in bottom place in Group D and Nigeria needed to take some strength from that. The first task they had was to keep their opponents quiet which would then subdue the fanatic Argentina fans. But the best laid plans of mice and men don’t always work, and the Super Eagles’ plan lasted exactly 14 minutes before Argentina struck.
And it was that man Messi. But all credit to Sevilla’s Ever Banega who fired a perfect 50 yard ball over the top to meet Messi’s perfectly timed run and the little genius smashed the ball into the far corner of the net. It was a touch of pure class as Messi took the ball down and away from the defender before unleashing as sweet as shot as you’d like.
Messi seemed to be on his game, more so than in his two previous outings. And he put Higuain through with an exquisite ball, but 19 year old keeper Francis Uzoho saved at the Juve man’s feet. And when Banega fired through another great ball Angel Di Maria was tripped on the edge of the box as he was about to pull the trigger. Up stepped Messi to float a testing free-kick over the wall, and Uzoho saved brilliantly, tipping it onto the post.
So far so good at the half way stage. And with Iceland losing, Argentina was sitting pretty.
But Nigeria was having none of it, and stunned the Argentina crowd soon after the break by drawing level; and it was an absolute nightmare for veteran midfielder Javier Mascherano. First he headed a ball off his own player Rojo, and out for a corner. Then from the resulting dead ball kick he fouled Leon Balogun and the referee pointed to the spot.
Victor Moses slotted coolly home to send the Nigerian crowd wild and throw Group D back into chaos. Rohr’s Nigeria was in second spot.
As Argentina steadied themselves and worked to get back on the front foot, their magnificent fans sang their hearts out to try to lift their heroes for one more big push.
To almost make matters worse for Sampaoli, Odion Ighalo had an amazing chance to put Nigeria in front but he panicked and shot wide. Sampaoli rolled the dice and, with just ten minutes remaining he brought Sergio Aguero on. But the next chance came to Higuain who ran in onto a ball from Rojo but blasted over from ten yards when he should have scored.
Then came the big moment, and what a moment! The ball pinged around the Nigeria box and, as Argentina threw men forward, it was centre back Marcus Rojo who met a cross from Gabriel Mercado and almost bust the net with an unstoppable volley.
What a finish and what a result! Leo Messi’s World Cup dream is alive.
Key statistics
Messi’s goal was his first in the World Cup in four years. He’d had an incredible 22 shots in World Cup games since his last goal, which was against…Nigeria. And it was the 100th goal in this tournament. That’s the kind of World Cup news Argentina fans have been waiting for.
That’s five consecutive wins against today’s opponents, all by the odd goal. The Nigerians must be getting sick of it.
What’s next?
With five minutes to go we thought we would have to do the next round of World Cup 2018 predictions without Argentina and Messi, but Rojo’s late stunner changed all that.
It’s time for Sampaoli’s men to find some real form now though, as they face well backed France in Kazan on Saturday.
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