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'Brilliant' Rojo volley sends Argentina through
Marcos Rojo scored a brilliant late volley to send Argentina through to the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup with a dramatic victory over Nigeria in St Petersburg.
A lacklustre Argentina were on the verge of an embarrassing exit, before Manchester United defender Rojo surged into the area to place Gabriel Mercado's cross into the bottom corner.
Lionel Messi, who had scored a brilliant opener, jumped on Rojo's back as he sprinted away in delirious celebration, joined by the entire Argentina bench in the corner.
It was a result they scarcely deserved after a poor second half showing, epitomised by Javier Mascherano's error that allowed Victor Moses to equalise with a penalty.
But once their ragged defence had held on to the final whistle, the Argentina players embraced each other in the centre of the pitch, waving to their vociferous fans, a disjointed side united for now.
They will face Group C winners France in the last 16 in Kazan on Saturday, while Group D winners Croatia, who secured top spot by beating Iceland 2-1, play Denmark.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Nigeria
23Uzoho
6BalogunBooked at 32mins
5Troost-Ekong
22OmeruoSubstituted forIwobiat 90'minutes
11Moses
4Ndidi
10MikelBooked at 90mins
8Etebo
2Idowu
14IheanachoSubstituted forIghaloat 45'minutes
7MusaSubstituted forSimyat 90+2'minutes
Substitutes
1Ezenwa
3Echiéjilé
9Ighalo
12Shehu
13Simy
15Obi
16Akpeyi
17Onazi
18Iwobi
19Ogu
20Awaziem
21Ebuehi
Argentina
12Armani
2Mercado
17Otamendi
16Rojo
3TagliaficoSubstituted forAgüeroat 80'minutes
15PérezSubstituted forPavónat 61'minutes
14MascheranoBooked at 49mins
7BanegaBooked at 64mins
11Di MaríaSubstituted forMezaat 72'minutes
10MessiBooked at 90mins
9Higuaín
Substitutes
1Guzmán
4Ansaldi
5Biglia
6Fazio
8Acuña
13Meza
18Salvio
19Agüero
20Lo Celso
21Dybala
22Pavón
23Caballero
Referee:
Cüneyt Çakir
Attendance:
64,468
Match Stats
Home TeamNigeriaAway TeamArgentina
Possession
Home34%
Away66%
Shots
Home9
Away8
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home3
Away5
Fouls
Home20
Away15
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Nigeria 1, Argentina 2.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Nigeria 1, Argentina 2.
BookingPosted at 90'+4'
Lionel Messi (Argentina) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 90'+4'
Javier Mascherano (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Simy (Nigeria).
Posted at 90'+3'
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by John Obi Mikel (Nigeria).
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+2'
Substitution, Nigeria. Simy replaces Ahmed Musa.
BookingPosted at 90'+1'
John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'
Substitution, Nigeria. Alex Iwobi replaces Kenneth Omeruo.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Lionel Messi (Argentina).
Posted at 88'
Kenneth Omeruo (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!Posted at 86'
Goal! Nigeria 1, Argentina 2. Marcos Rojo (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gabriel Mercado with a cross.
Posted at 84'
Attempt missed. Oghenekaro Etebo (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner from a direct free kick.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Éver Banega (Argentina).
Posted at 84'
Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 83'
Attempt saved. Odion Ighalo (Nigeria) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Cristian Pavón (Argentina).
Posted at 83'
Ahmed Musa (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 82'
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Oghenekaro Etebo.
Posted at 82'
Javier Mascherano (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Odion Ighalo (Nigeria).
Posted at 80'
Attempt missed. Gonzalo Higuaín (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marcos Rojo with a cross.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Argentina. Sergio Agüero replaces Nicolás Tagliafico.
Posted at 79'
Attempt blocked. Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Éver Banega.
Posted at 77'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 77'
Video Review: Penalty Kick. Referee decision on field stands.
Posted at 76'
Delay in match (Argentina). Video Review.
Posted at 75'
Attempt missed. Odion Ighalo (Nigeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Posted at 75'
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Kenneth Omeruo.
Posted at 74'
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 74'
Odion Ighalo (Nigeria).
Posted at 74'
Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 74'
Foul by Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria).
Posted at 73'
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Brian Idowu.
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Argentina. Maximiliano Meza replaces Ángel Di María.
Posted at 71'
Attempt missed. Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ahmed Musa.
Posted at 70'
Marcos Rojo (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Odion Ighalo (Nigeria).
Posted at 68'
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Kenneth Omeruo.
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Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com