Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Argentina, Javier Mascherano was penalised for holding at a corner and Victor Moses equalizer with penalty making it 1-1.
Argentina seemed shell-shocked by the equaliser and struggled to find their rhythm or creativity in attack. Referee checked VAR for handball in box but dismissed claim after seeing it came off defender's head first, before Marcos Rojo then scored dramatic late winner with volley in 86th minute to send Argentina through.
The ball, delightful from Ever Banega, arrived over his shoulder, on the run. Lionel Messi watched it onto his left thigh, killed it there, let it drop to his left boot, took a perfect controlling touch and switched it, right.
Kenneth Omeruo, whose job it was to in some way harness the wind at that point, knew he was in trouble. In these moments, it is as if Messi has a way of rendering opponents powerless. He shot, across goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, and the ball moved obediently into the far corner of Nigeria’s net without further instruction. A gem of a goal from a gem of a player.
So that’s what you would have been missing. That’s what would have disappeared from this World Cup had Argentina lost on Tuesday night. Sunshine. Magic. Wonder. Ultimately, it was a fabulous volley from Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo that propelled Argentina into the final 16, but this was about him. This was about our desire for one player to stay. Save Messi. That is what the neutrals desired.
Victor Moses celebrated levelling things up with an acrobatic celebration after calmly slotting his penalty home
The Chelsea man wrong-footed the goalkeeper to roll the ball in and punish Mascherano for his overly physical approach
Javier Mascherano was penalised for wrestling Leon Balogun to ground in the box as a corner was taken on the left
The former Liverpool and Barcelona man protested his innocence but the decision stood and he was given the yellow card
Marcos Rojo celebrated his late winner with Lionel Messi on his back but the striker had carried his team for most of the game
Rojo found himself in the box and made no mistake with his finish, firing powerfully into the bottom corner
The Manchester United defender was embraced after producing a magnificent volleyed finish to put his side through
Rojo did not hesitate when the big moment fell his way and his beautifully judged effort nestled in the net
MATCH FACTS:
Nigeria (3-5-2):
Uzoho 7; Balogun 7, Ekong 7, Omeruo 6.5 (A Iwobi 90); Moses 7, Ndidi 7, Mikel 7, Etebo 6.5, B Idowu 6.5; Iheanacho 5 (Ighalo 45, 6), Musa 7 (Simy 90).
Scorer: Moses 49.
Booked: Balogun, Mikel
Manager: Gernot Rohr 6.5.
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Argentina (4-3-3):
Armani 6.5; Mercado 6, Otamendi 7, Rojo 7, Tagliafico 6 (Aguero 80, 6); Perez 5 (Pavon 61, 7), Mascherano 4.5, Banega 8; Messi 7, Higuain 6.5, Di Maria 5.5 (Meza 72. 5).
Scorers: Messi 14, Rojo 86.
Booked: Mascherano, Banega, Messi.
Manager: Jorge Sampaoli 7.
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) 7
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