Brasil2014
Match Report 

Nigeria v Argentina


Porto Alegre, 25th June 2014

messi again
Mesmerising Messi

Match Report

Now this is where it all starts to get interesting. Players and coaches can almost taste the knock-out rounds. It’s not just survival that’s at stake, who finishes first and who second starts to matter as both managers analyse their potential route to the final.

All we do know, for certain, prior to kick-off is;

  1. Bosnia and Herzegovina are on tomorrow’s plane back home.
  2. Argentina will finish up as group winners or runners up
  3. Iran can finish second, third or fourth
  4. Nigeria can finish second or third
  5. There is a possibility of FIFA drawing lots to select Nigeria or Iran as runners up

The permutations make for an interesting match.

This will be the fourth time that these two teams have met in a World Cup competition, Argentina having won the first three. Argentina also have an unchanged team which means that Messi, their brightest star so far, starts. Nigeria have one change, Babatunde on for the injured Victor Moses. Coach Stephen Keshi leaves Oboabona and Gabriel on the bench which means that Stoke’s Peter Odemwingie gets a start.

And what a start it was. Mascherano, barely back on his feet after a robust tackle by Odemwingie, slots a perfect pass through to Di Maria, he shoots, Enyeama gets a hand to the ball, it rebounds of off the post and is met by Messi who is charging into the penalty area. A scorching shot into the top of the net! Only 3 minutes gone and it’s 1-0 to Argentina.

If anyone thought that presaged the opening of the floodgates they were swiftly disabused. Just over a minute later, Musa runs down the left channel, cuts inside and curls a beautiful, unstoppable, shot into the top right hand corner of Romero’s goal. 1-1 and not even five minutes on the clock - apparently that’s the first time that’s ever happened in the World Cup!

An intriguing first half of end-to-end football; Argentina continuing to press, Di Maria is having an excellent match, Enyeama is kept busy; but Nigeria are having their moments too. Both sets of attackers are probing the frailties of their opposition’s defences but no further goals are scored until just before the half time whistle. And it’s that man Messi again; a superb free kick over the wall and into the net. HT 2-1 to Argentina.

The second half is barely underway when the other star of the game, Musa, runs onto a pass from Emineke and slams a shot under Romero. Messi 2, Musa 2! The Argentine defence too slow to react, but even so, that Musa is a class act.

It’s not too long before Argentina take the lead again as a corner is met by Rojo’s knee and flies into the net. But Bosnia are beating Iran so it’s not too bad for Nigeria - this news keeps them in second place.

Sabella (or IDS, whichever it is) takes off Messi, who gets a tremendous acclaim from the massive Argentine support in the stadium, on the hour. The half continues with Zabaleta giving a masterclass in defending against Musa but no further goals occur despite both sides trying hard. And that’s how it ends, 3-2 to Argentina, thanks to two unconvincing defences and some excellent attacking play.

Bosnia & Herzegovina beat Iran 3-1 so Nigeria finish as runners up (Bosnia take third place in the group). They go on to play France next Monday; probably as far as they will go, especially if France play Morgan Schneiderlin !

Argentina play Switzerland on Tuesday. Can they go all the way? They are in with a good chance but, unless they tighten up defensively the semi-finals will be the best they’ll achieve.


stbaz


Teams 

Nigeria


01 Enyeama

05 Ambrose Emuobo

13 Oshaniwa - Booked

10 Mikel

02 Yobo

22 Omeruo - Booked

08 Odemwingie (Nwofor, 80')

17 Onazi

09 Emenike

18 Babatunde (Uchebo, 66')

07 Musa


Substitutes


03 Uzoenyi

04 Gabriel

06 Egwuekwe

12 Odunlami

14 Oboabona

15 Azeez

16 Ejide

19 Nwofor

20 Uchebo

21 Agbim

23 Ameobi



Argentina


01 Romero

04 Zabaleta

16 Rojo

14 Mascherano

17 Fernández

02 Garay

05 Gago

10 Messi (Álvarez, 63')

20 Agüero (Lavezzi, 38')

09 Higuaín (Biglia, 91')

07 Di María


Substitutes


03 Campagnaro

06 Biglia

08 Pérez

11 Rodríguez

12 Orión

13 Fernández

15 Demichelis

18 Palacio

19 Álvarez

21 Andujar

22 Lavezzi

23 Basanta




Nigeria

2

  • Musa 4′, 47′


Argentina

3

  • Messi 3′, 45′
  • Rojo 50′



Ref: Nicola Rizzoli

Att: 43,285




Possession

  • Nigeria 39%
  • Argentina 61%

Shots

  • Nigeria 12
  • Argentina 18

On Target

  • Nigeria 3
  • Argentina 13

Corners

  • Nigeria 4
  • Argentina 12

Fouls

  • Nigeria 16
  • Argentina 5