Messi scores twice as Argentina wraps up Group F
Argentina defeated Nigeria 3-2 on Wednesday in Porto Alegre to win Group F, with Lionel Messi and Ahmed Musa scoring two goals each before Marcos Rojo kneed in the winner. Nigeria also advanced despite the loss, becoming the first African team to reach the knockout round in Brazil.
Messi had his best match of the tournament to date, scoring twice in the first half — in the third minute and in injury time — to boost his total to four goals and repeatedly cutting up Nigeria’s defense with dazzling runs and clever passes.
‘‘We played against a team that wanted to play,’’ Messi said. ‘‘I think we saw a good Argentina. We need to continue on this path.’’
Musa scored in the fourth and 47th minutes for Nigeria before Rojo tallied the game-winner off a corner kick in the 50th.
‘‘Messi is one of heck of a player,’’ Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said. ‘‘He’s blessed. Messi is from Jupiter. He is different.’’
France captures Group E
France wrapped up the top spot in Group E and a place in the knockout round with a 0-0 draw against 10-man Ecuador in Rio de Janeiro. France scored eight goals in its first two group games but played far less aggressively against Ecuador, which lost midfielder Antonio Valencia to a straight red card for digging his shoe into the leg of French defender Lucas Digne in the 50th minute.
Switzerland advances, too
Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice in the first half and once in the second to lead Switzerland into the knockout round with a 3-0 victory against Honduras in Group E in Manaus. Shaqiri scored off the underside of the crossbar in the sixth minute and in the 31st to stake Switzerland to a 2-0 halftime lead, then completed his hat trick in the 71st.
History for Bosnia-Herzegovina
Edin Dzeko scored in the first half and Miralem Pjanic and Avdija Vrsaljevic in the second as Bosnia-Herzegovina registered the first World Cup victory in its history by defeating Iran 3-1 in a game between Group F also-rans in Salvador. Reza Ghoochannejhad scored in the second half for Iran.