HEARTBREAKING:
ST PETERSBURG: Argentina and Lionel Messi progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup by the skin of their teeth last night after an 86th-minute strike from defender Marcos Rojo gave them a 2-1 win over Nigeria, eliminating the African side.
Croatia advance as winners of Group D with the maximum nine points after beating Iceland 2-1 and Nigeria were just minutes away from joining them before central defender Rojo superbly volleyed home a Gabriel Mercado cross from the right.
Messi had put Argentina ahead in the 14th minute, with a fabulously taken goal but the Africans equalised through a Victor Moses penalty in the 51st minute and the twice World Cup winners struggled to respond to that setback with a ragged second-half display.
In front of a massive following of passionate and loud Argentine fans, the game began in ideal fashion for Jorge Sampaoli’s side, who had managed just a point from their opening two games. A perfectly weighted diagonal ball over the top by Ever Banega was sublimely brought down on the outside of his thigh by Messi who then drove past Nigeria’s teenage goalkeeper Francis Uzoho to open the scoring.
The selection of Banega proved to be an inspired one by Sampaoli with the Sevilla midfielder providing the quality service that had been lacking in their opening two games.
Banega almost inspired a second goal for the Argentines when he put Angel Di Maria clear, the winger being brought down by Leon Balogun and Messi struck the woodwork from the resulting free kick with a curler from the left against the far post.
It had been an impressive half from Argentina, but the game was to take a twist shortly after the interval.
Defending a corner, Argentine defender Javier Mascherano jockeyed Leon Balogun inside the area and when the Nigerian fell to the floor, Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir awarded a penalty.
After lengthy and impassioned protests from the Argentine players, Moses managed to keep his cool and slot past Franco Armani to level the scores.
The Super Eagles wasted several chances to add a second and secure their place in the last 16 before the unlikely source of Manchester United central defender Rojo kept Argentina’s tournament alive and left Nigeria in despair.
Argentina go on to face France in the next round, while Croatia take on Denmark.
Meanwhile, a revamped but businesslike Croatia topped the group as Ivan Perisic’s lastgasp goal helped them maintain their perfect record that also ended Iceland’s qualification hopes last night.
Perisic, with Luka Modric the only player not rested, struck in the last minute to confirm their last-16 clash with Denmark after Milan Badelj’s second-half goal had been cancelled out by Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty. Iceland, who had a handful of good chances, finish bottom of the group with one point but high in their thunder-clapping fans’ esteem.
With qualification assured, coach Zlatko Dalic fielded the youngest Croatia team at a World Cup, making nine changes from the team who beat Argentina 3-0.
As expected, Croatia bossed the midfield and Iceland were perfectly happy with the scenario, looking to hit their opponents on the break.
The Iceland fans started the night’s first “Thunder Clap” in support of midfielder Birkir Bjarnason, who briefly left the pitch with a bloodied nose after clashing with Marko Pjaca’s elbow.
Croatia’s possession was sterile but, with a draw enough to top the group, they had little incentive, especially as Iceland were pretty toothless until news of Messi’s opening goal reached them.
They started to press higher, putting Croatia on the backfoot. Five minutes before the break, Alfred Finnbogason played a one-two with Sigurdsson but his first-time shot from just inside the box went wide.
On the stroke of halftime, Aron Gunnarsson fired an angled shot that was bound for the top corner until Lovre Kalinic tipped it away.
Croatia had their first clear chance when Milan Badelj’s missile crashed onto the bar six minutes into the second half. The midfielder was more accurate two minutes later as he thundered a volley into the back of the net to open the scoring.
Sverrir Ingason forced Kalinic to another spectacular save, seconds before his header shaved the top of the bar.
Iceland were rewarded in the 76th minute when secondhalf substitute Dejan Lovren handled the ball and Sigurdsson rifled the resulting penalty into the roof of the net.
Iceland’s hopes were up again, but Perisic’s cool finish after he slipped into the left side of the area made sure there would be no fairy tale to tell for the Icelanders. – Reuters