World Cup 2018, Argentina vs Nigeria Highlights: Marcos Rojo Winner Takes Argentina To Last 16
FIFA World Cup 2018, Highlights, Nigeria vs Argentina: Marcos Rojo scored the winner for Argentina as they qualified for the Round of 16.
Marcos Rojo's stunning finish four minutes from time kept Lionel Messi and Argentina's World Cup hopes alive to see off Nigeria 2-1 on Tuesday and set up a last 16 meeting with France. Messi's first goal of the tournament got the two-time winners off to a perfect start in Saint Petersburg, but Victor Moses's 51st minute penalty had Jorge Sampaoli's men headed for a humiliating group stage exit until Rojo's late intervention. The Manchester United defender, who had escaped conceding a second Nigerian penalty moments earlier after a controversial VAR review, thundered home Gabriel Mercado's cross to send the under-fire Sampaoli running down the sidelines amid wild scenes of celebration. (Highlights: Nigeria vs Argentina) (Highlights: Iceland vs Croatia)
Highlights of 2018 FIFA World Cup, Argentina vs Nigeria, straight from Saint Petersburg Stadium
01:30 IST: Thank you for joining us for the live blog.
Mere numbers cannot begin to describe the drama and excitement that football provides.
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
But, anyway, here are the stats from #NGAARG and #ISLCRO.#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ybQDeJ1spu
01:25 IST: FULL-TIME | Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 to qualify for the Round of 16. Marcos Rojo scored the winner for the Lionel Messi-led team.
Never in doubt.
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Was it? #NGAARG #ISLCRO pic.twitter.com/i2YhosG1Aa
01:21 IST: FULL-TIME |Â Croatia beat Iceland 2-1 to finish top of Group D.
Maximum points for #CRO as they top Group D.
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
They face #DEN on Sunday in Round of 16. pic.twitter.com/SeKh61ubGt
01:19Â IST: Four minutes of added time for both the Group D matches.
01:18Â IST: Group D standings after the goals.
AND ANOTHER GOAL!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Ivan Perisic gives #CRO the lead!
AS IT STANDS:
1) #CRO
2) #ARG
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3) #NGA
4) #ISL pic.twitter.com/EzdKFzIPSe
01:17 IST: GOOAALL!! Ivan Perisic scores in the 90th minute to give Croatia a 2-1 lead vs Iceland.
01:16 IST: GOAALL!! 87th minute -- Marcos Rojo is the saviour for Argentina tonight as he appears from nowhere and puts the ball in the back of the Nigerian goal. Argentinians are ecstatic and they are back in the driving seat.
#ARG left it late. So, very late.
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Next up on Saturday.....#FRA.pic.twitter.com/RpDaYrOsSx
01:12 IST: 84th minute -- Nigeria get a free-kick in a dangerous position. Etebo curls the ball in only to find the side of the net.
01:09 IST:Â Just over ten minutes to go and Higuain misses an opportunity to the ball in the back of the net. Argentina have created a lot more chances but none of them were converted.
01:04 IST: GOOAALL !! Gylfi Sigurdsson scores from the spot as Iceland equalises in the 70th minute. | Iceland 1-1 Croatia.
#ISL SCORE!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Another penalty, this one converted by Gylfi Sigurdsson!#ISLCRO 1-1 pic.twitter.com/PyPDUsmeIS
01:01 IST:Â Musa wins the ball on the half line, makes a dash down the left flank and passes the ball down the middle, Ndidi, who made a run down the middle, shoots and the ball flies inches above the crossbar. That was so close!
01:00 IST: 20 minutes of left play -- Both the teams are trying their hard to score another goal.
00:50 IST: Pavon makes a dash down the right flank, crosses but Ekong slides and clears away the ball for a corner. Di Maria misses an opportunity with a header.
00:47 IST:Â In a single minute, Group D changed dramatically.
In a single minute, Group D changed dramatically. #NGAARG 1-1 #ISLCRO 0-1 pic.twitter.com/9H9NueCcMr
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
00:43 IST: GOOAALL!! In the other match, Milan Badelj gives Croatia a 1-0 lead vs Iceland.
Meanwhile, in Rostov-On-Don...#CRO take the lead!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Milan Badelj scores! #ISLCRO 0-1 pic.twitter.com/AnZ4aLQyMF
00:39 IST: GOOAALLL!! Mascherano gets booked for a yellow card as the referee blows his whistle and Nigeria have a penalty. Victor Moses scores from the spot to give his team an important equaliser. |Â Nigeria 1-1 Argentina.
Group D as it stands currently...
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
1) #CRO 9
2) #NGA 4
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3) #ARG 2
4) #ISL 1 pic.twitter.com/Ua5srWHgFb
00:35 IST:Â The second-half of the Nigeria vs Argentina match and Iceland vs Croatia starts.
00:20 IST: Key stats --
Key stats:
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
#ARG have won 29/30 World Cup matches in which they were leading at half-time, the only exception the 4-2 defeat in the 1930 final against #URU
Saint Petersburg Stadium is the 100th stadium where Leo Messi has scored a goal for #ARG or Barcelona #NGAARG pic.twitter.com/Lm1Xo3yDRw
00:17 IST: HALF-TIME |Â Argentina lead Nigeria 1-0 and it is still goalless in the Iceland vs Croatia match.
Half-time in Saint Petersburg...
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
A Leo Messi goal is the difference. #NGAARG pic.twitter.com/JpB1M97crb
00:15 IST: Two added minutes for the both the Group D matches.
00:10 IST:Â Players to score Goal 100 of a World Cup.
Players to score Goal 100 of a #WorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
2010: @andresiniesta8
2014: @neymarjr
2018: @TeamMessi
Not a bad collection of players pic.twitter.com/4cqSvG6pui
00:07 IST:Â Will we see a repeat performance?
Messi vs #NGA 2014
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Messi vs #NGA 2018 #NGAARG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/2D55qzadU5
00:03 IST: 33rd minute -- Leon Balogun is booked for clipping Di Maria's heel as the latter for making a run down the middle. Argentina get a free-kick. Messi curls the ball in but Uzoho dives to his left and gets his finger tips as the ball hits the far post and bounces off.
00:00 IST: 30 minutes are up --Â Argentina look confident as Nigeria are yet to find their footing. In the other game, Croatia are dominating Iceland.
23:57 IST: 27th minute --Â Messi provides a brilliant pass down the middle as Higuain charges and reaches the ball but the Nigerian keeper, Francis Uzoho, got to the ball just seconds before. Close, close chance as Argentina would've doubled their lead.
23:55 IST: After 25 minutes, it is still goalless in the match between Iceland and Croatia.
23:54 IST:Â Argentina have woken up after the goal as they are controlling the tempo of the game and are creating chances. Nigeria, on the other hand, have failed to capitalise on two of their chances.
23:44 IST: GOAAALLL!!! Lionel Messi scores as Argentina lead Nigeria 1-0 in the 14th minute. Banagea gets possession, looks for Messi and passes to Messi, who was making his run down the middle. Messi receives the ball on hi chest, controls and shoots the ball past the Nigerian keeper.
The perfect start for @Argentina on a huge night of football. #NGAARG 0-1 pic.twitter.com/RbGhyMGBqk
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Goal 100 of the 2018 FIFA #WorldCup is scored by Leo Messi! #NGAARG 0-1 pic.twitter.com/SyoFDSqqeN
23:40 IST:Â Messi makes a run down the left flank but the Nigerian defence does not let the ball through.
23:37 IST: Etebo get an early opportunity but the Argentinian defence blocks the shot. On the counter, Messi is fouled as Argentina get a free-kick. Banega slips a clever pass through to Tagliafico, who charges into the area but shoots high and wide.
23:35 IST: Five minutes are up --Â Both Argentina and Nigeria look nervous and the passes are going astray.
23:30 IST:Â KICK-OFF!! The Group D matches between Nigeria-Argentina and Iceland-Croatia starts.
23:25 IST:Â Nigeria and Argentina are walking out of the tunnel for their respective national anthems. In the other match -- Iceland vs Croatia -- the pre-match rituals are taking place.
23:20 IST: We are few minutes away from the kick-off. Stay tuned.
23:10 IST: Team formations --
And now, in a bit more detail... #NGAARG #ISLCRO pic.twitter.com/wAnOGovKnL
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
22:35 IST:Â Iceland --Â Hannes Halldorsson; Birkir Saevarsson, Sverrir Ingason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Hordur Magnusson; Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Aron Gunnarsson, Emil Hallfredsson, Birkir Bjarnason; Gylfi Sigurdsson; Alfred Finnbogason
22:30 IST:Â Croatia --Â Lovre Kalinic; Tin Jedvaj, Vedran Corluka, Duje Caleta-Car, Josip Pivaric; Milan Badelj, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric; Marko Pjaca, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic
22:25 IST: Nigeria --Â Francis Uzoho; Bryan Idowu, William Ekong, Leon Balogun; Victor Moses, Wilfred Ndidi, John Obi Mikel (capt), Oghenekaro Etebo, Kenneth Omeruo; Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa
22:20 IST:Â Argentina --Â Franco Armani; Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico; Enzo Perez, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega; Lionel Messi (capt), Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria
22:15 IST:Â The starting XI of Nigeria and Argentina have been announced. Angel Di Maria included, Sergio Aguero benched. The starting XI of Iceland and Croatia too have been announced.
Who's ready for the final matches of Group D?
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
The team news is in...#NGAARG#ISLCRO pic.twitter.com/GT69ocJxzL
22:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the matches between Nigeria-Argentina and Iceland-Croatia.
And his 31st birthday on Sunday only served to highlight how time is running out for Messi to win a major international tournament. Without the five-time World Player of the Year, though, it is highly unlikely Argentina would even have qualified. Messi salvaged a disastrous campaign under three different managers with a hat-trick away to Ecuador in the Albiceleste's final qualifier.
Argentina
Croatia