Lionel Messi scores twice in 3-2 win over Nigeria as both teams qualify for last 16
Just a day after his 27th birthday, the Barcelona star gave another master-class with a deadly double that's turning this World Cup into Messi v Neymar.
The double took his tally to ten goals in his last eight internationals – and signaled Messi is primed and ready to create more havoc in the knock-out stage after Argentina topped Group F.
With less than three minutes gone Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago threaded a pass to Angel Di Maria who burst forward and let fly with a vicious low drive which rammed against the post.
The ball bounced back on to Lille keeper Enyeama, on to the post again and spun out for Messi to blast home.
Messi's joy was initially short lived as seconds later the Super Eagles hit back with a devastating reply equal to the quality of Argentina's opener.
Injury jinxed Sergio Aguero, who limped off after 37 minutes, stumbled over the ball in midfield and Nigeria midfielder Michael Babatunde sped at Argentina's back four.
Musa took the pass and stepped inside Manchester City star Pablo Zabaleta before curling a beauty inside the far post.
It was a breathtaking start – and it made World Cup history with two teams scoring in the opening five minutes for the first time ever at the finals.
For Messi, though, it was merely a reccy mission for the real deal on the stroke of half time.
Joseph Yobo fouled Messi 10 yards outside the box for a free kick in a more central position.
And this time he made no mistake with Enyeama not even diving as the ball curled high into the top corner.
Just two minutes after the re-start Musa banged in a second equaliser from a cute pass by Emenike, steering his shot past Romero.
Argentina's eventual 50th minute winner didn't have the quality of Messi's double.
But Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Rojo was just as ecstatic even though the ball bounced off his knee from Lavezzi's 50th minute corner.
Said Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi later: "Messi is one hell of a player. You can't take it away from him. He is from Jupiter. He is different.”
In the end it didn't matter as Bosnia's win over Iran meant Nigeria progress.
Dzeko scores as Bosnia deny Iran a route to the last 16
Iran had hopes of a place in the last 16 dashed by a rampant Bosnia and Herzegovina side who earned their first World Cup win with goals from Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic and Avdija Vrsajevic.
Dzeko looked lively early on so it was no surprise when he opened the scoring after 23 minutes.
Pjanic was given plenty of time to pick out Dzeko, himself afforded too much space, and the Manchester City striker set off on a diagonal run from right to left before shooting past Alireza Haghighi from 25 yards.
Their second - which finally put paid to Iran's chances - just short of the hour, was self-inflicted as Jalal Hosseini gave away possession in his own half and was severely punished as Tino Susic provided the pass for Pjanic, who was borderline offside, to slide home.
Ghoochannejhad struck with eight minutes to go but there was not even time for Iran to consider an unlikely comeback before Vrsajevic drilled home Bosnia's third from a narrow angle.
Xherdan Shaqiri scores 50th hat-trick in World Cup history, sets up Messi date
Xherdan Shaqiri scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Honduras that sent Switzerland through to the knockout stages, and set up a second round meeting with Argentina.
The Bayern Munich forward scored twice in the first half - his first a curled effort from outside the area - to give his side a commanding lead over Honduras.
Two minutes later, Shaqiri again tested Valladares but this time it was the Swiss midfielder who came out on top.
Shaqiri picked up the ball on the right-hand corner of the penalty area before drifting inside on to his left foot and unleashing a stunning strike into the top corner.
Shaqiri doubled his and Switzerland's advantage shortly after the half-hour mark.
Drmic played an incisive pass to Shaqiri, who broke through the Honduras defence before picking his spot with a composed finish into the bottom corner.
Switzerland made a sluggish start to the second period but in the 71st minute, one long ball forward found Drmic, who skipped past Victor Bernardez before teeing up Shaqiri to slide the ball home for his hat-trick.
With the result secured and qualification guaranteed, Shaqiri was substituted to a standing ovation with four minutes remaining. The last 16 and Argentina await.
Ecuador and France play out boring goalless draw as Les Bleus progress as Group E winners
With a second-string side representing Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, Liverpool and Southampton, Premier League quality, it was sad that it was France in the Maracana last night, not England.
Even with a shadow side, France have emerged as the real deal, closing in on a likely quarter-final showdown with Germany, in the goalless, as Ecuador's fate was sealed by Switzerland.
No comments:
Post a Comment