Argentina 3 (L.Messi 2, Rojos 1) : Nigeria 2 ( A Musa 2)
At long last Favourite Argentina played the attacking brand of football that has earned them worldwide reputation and earned billions of fans anywhere and everywhere. Not that Super Eagles were less impressive. In a highly entertaining and enthralling match Argentina overcame Nigerian challenge with a score line of a 3-2 .
Lionel Messi the darling of world soccer scored two eye pleasing goals to take his tally to 4 from three matches equalling Neymar of Brazil. The other Argentine Gaol came from defender Rojos. Musa of Nigeria also scored two spectacular goals. Both teams qualified for group of Sixteen as the challenge from Iran evaporated with debutant Bosnia winning the match 3-1.
Argentina already had booked their berth for the knock out round. Their interest for the match was finishing on top of the table to avoid a date early with Group F leader France. Nigeria had two objectives qualify and also try to avoid meeting France. For objective one a draw was enough but to avoid meeting France they were required to win.
Argentina tipped by many as potential Champion for 2014 World Cup could not impress at all in their first two matches and in real times should consider them fortunate to earn full points against debutant Bosnia& Harzegovina and Iran.
Only Messi magic bailed them out in either case. Nigeria also failed to play to their potential. They managed to beat Bosnia somehow but were held by Iran to win by the barest of Margin. Teams fielded unchanged side from the previous match.
Teams settled very early in the match announcing their positive intentions. Messi put his team ahead off a rebound from Nigeria post from a de Maria drive as early as 3rd minute. But hardly the Argentine fans could settle from joy Nigeria equalized through Musa angling left footer off a sweet move down the left flank. Within first four minutes the match ignited with two lovely goals from either side.
A new record for World Cup as two teams never scored in the first 5 minutes of any match of a world cup in the past. For a change di Maria looked more enterprising and was building moves from wider areas letting Messi operate more in the centre moving from deep.Agueira, di Maria and Messi for the first time in this World cup started combining well. Super Eagles Emenike, Musa and Babatun also looked goal hungry in the front.
After the electrifying start the tempo of the match died down for a while with teams working on sizing the opposition with more methodical moves. A scorching di Maria long range low drive in the 29 th minute was saved with agility by Eneama.With 10 minutes to go for half time Nigeria got a free kick on the right hand edge of Argentine penalty box. The free kick created a melee in Argentine box. But no damage done. Sergio Aguero was substituted as he appeared injured. More of a precautionary move though.
Messi fired a curling left foot free kick which Eneyama saved with 2 Minutes left for half time.Mgical Messi scored with a magical free kick completely mesmerising Eneyama in the first minute of the injury time Argentina back in lead 2-1. Little Master started imposing his true class and star value.With 4 goals Messi equalled Neymar’s 4 goals in Brazil 2014 so far.
Nigeria equalized again early in the second (47th Minute) half again through Musa exploiting Argentine defence lapse 2-2. Immediately after the goal in the 50th Minute Argentina got a Corner from a counter attack following a free kick and scored again as M Rojos legs deflected it to the goal making it 3-2.
Again the match witnessed two goals from two teams with in first minute of resumption. Match again settled on a little quitter phase. Rarely in a world cup do two players of two teams create opportunity for hat trick in the same match with almost half of the match still to play. Messi was taken off in the 63 rd minute however to keep him fresh for more utility use in the next round. Meantime words got around that Bosnia took 2-0 lead against Iran meaning that both Nigeria would gone through even if they lose.
But nevertheless teams did not give up. Attacks and counter attacks flowed like a fountain in the very entertaining eye pleasing encounter. De Maria was definitely the man who inspired the return to flowing best of Argentina. His probing runs kept Nigerian defence busy. On the other hand Musa was glittered like gold for Nigera.
Argentina won but the defence still looks vulnerable against quick counter attacks. But they must be satisfied now that de Maria is back into business.
Argentina :S.Romero, Zabaleta, F.Fernánd., E. Garay, M. Rojo, F. Gago ,Mascheranno ,J,di Maria, G. Higuaín, L. Messi,and S,Aguero.
Nigeria : Enyeama, ,E. Ambrose, ,J. Yobo,.J. Oshaniw, ,K. Omeruo, ,A. Musa, ,O. Onazi, . O. Mike, ,M. Babatun, ,Odemwingie, and E. Emenike
BDST: 0025 HRS JUN 25, 2014
