Nigeria 2-3 Argentina

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World Cup 2014: Nigeria 2-3 Argentina highlights

Argentina and Nigeria both qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup despite two Lionel Messi goals condemning the African side to a 3-2 defeat in their final group game.

The Barcelona forward netted a fierce opener, but Ahmed Musa equalised within 80 seconds with a curling finish.

Messi made it 2-1 before the break with a 25-yard free-kick, but Musa grabbed his second after bursting through.

Marcos Rojo scored Argentina's winner, knocking in a corner with a knee.

The result means Argentina finish top of Group F with three wins from three games, while Nigeria qualify in second with four points after Iran failed to defeat Bosnia-Hercegovina.

Nigeria will face France in the last 16 in Brasilia next Monday, while Argentina take on Switzerland a day later in Sao Paulo.

They progressed after another goal-laden World Cup match.

It only took three minutes for the deadlock to be broken as Messi smashed home after Angel Di Maria's effort came off a post.

The celebrations had barely died down when Nigeria levelled. Midfielder Michel Babatunde - who was later stretchered off with a wrist injury - fed the ball into the left side of the area for Musa, who shifted to his right before curling in.

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Messi curls free-kick past Nigeria

It was the first time in World Cup history that two opposing teams had both scored inside the first five minutes.

The forwards on show continued to expose the fragility of both defences, but it was not until stoppage time in the first half that the next goal arrived.

Messi, who moments earlier drew an exceptional save from Vincent Enyeama with a free-kick, struck a set-piece over the wall and beyond the reach of the Lille goalkeeper.

It was the 27-year-old's fourth goal in three matches at Brazil 2014, having scored just once in his first eight World Cup appearances.

Match facts

• Messi has scored 10 times in his past eight appearances for Argentina
• This is the second time Argentina have conceded in the opening five minutes of a World Cup match since 1966
• Musa is the first Nigeria player to score twice in a World Cup match

Nigeria knew Bosnia-Hercegovina had taken an early lead against Iran, the African team's rivals for qualification, but they did not sit back and were level again within two minutes of the restart.

Musa was the goalscorer again, the CSKA Moscow forward playing a one-two Emmanuel Emenike before slotting the ball past Sergio Romero.

Argentina pressed once more, with Di Maria twice forcing Enyeama to make good stops. But the Nigeria goalkeeper was beaten when defender Rojo used his knee to convert a corner from the left.

A desperate Di Maria was thwarted again by Enyeama in the closing moments, as the match ended in the same thrilling manner in which it began.

Messi (second from right) scored his third goal in three World Cup games

Musa, out of shot, equalised for Nigeria only 80 seconds after Argentina's opener

Messi gave Enyeama little chance with his free-kick

Musa (centre) scored two goals from only two shots

Rojo scored his first goal for Argentina in the second half

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Nigeria

• 1Enyeama
• 13OshaniwaBooked at 51mins
• 22OmeruoBooked at 48mins
• 2Yobo
• 5Ambrose
• 10Mikel
• 18BabatundeSubstituted forUcheboat 66'minutes
• 17Onazi
• 7Musa
• 8OdemwingieSubstituted forNwoforat 80'minutes
• 9Emenike

Substitutes

• 3Uzoenyi
• 4Gabriel
• 6Egwuekwe
• 12Odunlami
• 14Oboabona
• 15Azeez
• 16Ejide
• 19Nwofor
• 20Uchebo
• 21Agbim
• 23Ameobi

Argentina

• 1Romero
• 16Rojo
• 2Garay
• 17Fernández
• 4Zabaleta
• 14Mascherano
• 5Gago
• 10MessiSubstituted forÁlvarezat 63'minutes
• 7Di María
• 9HiguaínSubstituted forBigliaat 90+1'minutes
• 20AgüeroSubstituted forLavezziat 38'minutes

Substitutes

• 3Campagnaro
• 6Biglia
• 8Pérez
• 11Rodríguez
• 12Orión
• 13Fernández
• 15Demichelis
• 18Palacio
• 19Álvarez
• 21Andujar
• 22Lavezzi
• 23Basanta

Referee:

Nicola Rizzoli

Attendance:

43,285

Match Stats

Home TeamNigeriaAway TeamArgentina

Possession

Home39%

Away61%

Shots

Home12

Away18

Shots on Target

Home3

Away13

Corners

Home4

Away12

Fouls

Home16

Away5

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Nigeria 2, Argentina 3.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Nigeria 2, Argentina 3.

Posted at 90'+4'

Ricardo Álvarez (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Ogenyi Onazi (Nigeria).

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Ezequiel Lavezzi (Argentina).

Posted at 90'+3'

Kenneth Omeruo (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+1'

Substitution, Argentina. Lucas Biglia replaces Gonzalo Higuaín.

Posted at 90'

Delay in match Juwon Oshaniwa (Nigeria) because of an injury.

Posted at 90'

Attempt saved. Javier Mascherano (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Fernando Gago.

Posted at 87'

Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Ezequiel Garay.

Posted at 87'

Attempt blocked. Efe Ambrose (Nigeria) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ogenyi Onazi.

Posted at 85'

Attempt saved. Ángel Di María (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Gonzalo Higuaín with a through ball.

Posted at 84'

Attempt missed. Emmanuel Emenike (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by John Obi Mikel.

Posted at 82'

Attempt blocked. Ogenyi Onazi (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 82'

Attempt blocked. Michael Uchebo (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Uche Nwofor.

Posted at 81'

Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Federico Fernández.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Gonzalo Higuaín (Argentina).

Posted at 81'

Efe Ambrose (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Nigeria. Uche Nwofor replaces Peter Odemwingie.

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Ezequiel Garay (Argentina) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 79'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.

Posted at 79'

Attempt blocked. Ahmed Musa (Nigeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Emmanuel Emenike with a through ball.

Posted at 78'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Vincent Enyeama.

Posted at 78'

Attempt saved. Ezequiel Lavezzi (Argentina) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ángel Di María.

Posted at 77'

Ricardo Álvarez (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Ogenyi Onazi (Nigeria).

Posted at 75'

Offside, Nigeria. Michael Uchebo tries a through ball, but Emmanuel Emenike is caught offside.

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Ahmed Musa (Nigeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Peter Odemwingie with a cross.

Posted at 73'

Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Marcos Rojo.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina).

Posted at 71'

Ahmed Musa (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 69'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Juwon Oshaniwa.

Posted at 67'

Javier Mascherano (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 67'

Foul by Peter Odemwingie (Nigeria).

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Nigeria. Michael Uchebo replaces Michel Babatunde because of an injury.

Posted at 66'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 64'

Delay in match Michel Babatunde (Nigeria) because of an injury.

Substitution

Posted at 63'

Substitution, Argentina. Ricardo Álvarez replaces Lionel Messi.

Posted at 62'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Kenneth Omeruo.

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