Messi at double as Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2

Nigerians also qualify to the next round

June 25, 2014 11:47 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 07:05 pm IST - Porto Alegre

Argentina's forward and captain Lionel Messi (2R) scores during the Group F football match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre. Photo: AFP

Argentina's forward and captain Lionel Messi (2R) scores during the Group F football match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre. Photo: AFP

Two goals from Lionel Messi and one from Marcos Rojo see Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 to qualify at the top of Group F, but the Nigerians also go through to the next round after Iran are defeated by Bosnia in the group’s other game in Salvador.

Argentina got off to a flying start in the Estadio Beira-Rio, taking the lead in the third minute when Messi fired home. A minute later though Nigeria were level, Ahmed Musa racing up-field and finding the net with an angled shot.

Messi got his second from a free-kick on the stroke of half time to make it 2-1, but two minutes after the break Ahmed Musa got his second to equalize again for Nigeria.

Incredibly, Argentina re-took the lead in 50 minutes, Marcos Rojo forcing the ball home from a corner to make it 3-2 — and that’s how it stayed despite further chances for both sides.

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