Argentina went through to the last 16 of the 2018 Fifa World Cup by overcoming Nigeria 2-1 in a nerve-wracking tussle at the Saint Petersburg Stadium last night.
Defender Marcos Rojo hit the winner in the 86th minute after an early second-half penalty neutralised Lionel Messi's 14th-minute lead in a game where Argentina not only did everything in their power to avoid early elimination, but literally shed blood. When Rojo hit the winning goal, which can be best described as Toni Kroos moment, with a powerful low drive off a right cross from the flank, Javier Mascherano was still bleeding from a scraped cheek.
In another Group D match, Croatia defeated Iceland 2-1 to seal top spot in the group. They will face Denmark in the round of 16, who earlier in the day played out the Russia 2018's first goalless draw against France, Argentina's next opponents. Peru got their first World Cup win in 40 years as they handed a 2-0 defeat to Australia, but both teams were eliminated.
In Saint Petersburg, Mascherano was actually responsible for awarding Nigeria a penalty; he was holding Leon Balogun when Oghenekaro Etebo took the corner from the right flank. Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir retained his decision after consulting with the VAR (video assistant referee) and Victor Moses converted it, sending Franco Armani to the wrong end. The early second half Nigeria goal served as a real shockwave for the Argentina fans, who were actually celebrating Messi's goal in the 14th minute of the do-or-die encounter.
It was a brilliant through ball from midfielder Ever Banega. But still it needed the precision and extreme control of the world's best player to convert it to a goal. He made his run perfectly, took it on the thigh and then on his left foot before slipping away just enough from his marker. Messi then unleashed a shot with his weaker right foot into the far corner of the net. He also got the opportunity to double the lead in the 32nd minute from a free kick just outside the left-hand box. But his left-footed curler came off the post.
It was a game anybody could have won. But Argentina showed more tenacity and were eventually rewarded. Unlike the last two games, when Messi was less involved, he played the central role. He came down a bit to orchestrate the attack and the return of Banega provided the creativity that Argentina lacked against Croatia. Messi not only controlled the game; he was even seen playing the role of the manager when he had a brief meeting before coming out of the dugout in the second half.
The Saint Petersburg Stadium virtually turned into Buenos Aires moments after the referee blew the final whistle. The players were involved in an emotional huddle in the middle while Diego Maradona was wiping tears of joy in the stands amidst raucous noise. Argentina fans were singing and dancing in the stands even half an hour after the game was finished. With Croatia winning the other game 2-1 against Iceland, Argentina will now travel to Kazan to face France on June 30 in the round of 16.
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