Brazil 2014: Argentina beats Nigeria 3-2 as Both Teams Enter Knockout Phase
By Opeyemi Oladunjoye
Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 in their last World Cup group match on Wednesday, with Lionel Messi and Ahmed Musa scoring two goals each before Marcos Rojo kneed in the winner.
Argentina finished as the top team in Group F while Nigeria also advanced despite the loss, becoming the first African team in the round of 16 in Brazil.
Messi opened the scoring in the third minute, slamming in the rebound after Angel Di Maria’s shot bounced off the post. Nigeria replied within a minute as Musa cut in from the left and beat Sergio Romero with a curling shot toward the far post.
Messi’s perfectly hooked free kick restored the lead for Argentina just before halftime. The Argentina captain has scored in each of the team’s three matches, and now has a total of four goals.
The second half started at the same furious pace as the first, with two goals within the first five minutes. First Musa took advantage of confusion in the Argentine defense to score his second. Then Rojo made it 3-2 as he got his right knee on a corner kick three minutes.
Argentina and Nigeria will now meet the first and second teams in Group E in the second round. France had advanced into the next round but the second team will be determined after France clashes with Ecuador and Switzerland with Honduras on Wednesday evening.