Argentina Finds World Cup Salvation in Thriller Over Nigeria
Argentina 2-1 Nigeria
Marcos Rojo gives Lionel Messi a ride after scoring late in the game.
For nearly two years, one of the world’s great soccer powers had been largely missing in action. The team stumbled through qualifying and appeared lost in its first two matches in Russia, a disappointing draw with tiny Iceland and a thorough beating from Croatia.
Then Tuesday night happened. Here, for all but a handful of minutes, was the Argentina with the unstoppable striker, the stifling midfield, and the lightning quick attacks, all of which combined to deliver a thrilling 2-1 win over Nigeria on a night when there was no margin for error.
The moment that made it all possible came in the 86th minute, when Marcos Rojo’s volley off a picture-perfect centering pass from Gabriel Mercado, rescued Argentina’s World Cup when it looked as though all was lost.
“A huge relief,” Lionel Messi said when it was over. “We knew it was going to be a difficult afternoon. We didn’t think we were going to suffer as much as we did.”
Rojo’s goal sent the tens of thousands of Argentina’s faithful who had traveled so far north into a wild, deafening celebration, a series of cheers and songs and dance that lasted well into the pale blue St. Petersburg night. Sitting in a box midway up the stands, the legendary Diego Maradona leapt in celebration then flipped a double-bird toward the field at who knows what.
“Now the Cup starts for us,” Rojo said.
The win, combined with Croatia’s defeat of Iceland, sent Messi and Argentina through to the knockout round, where they will face France. When it all ended 10 minutes after the deciding goal, Argentina’s bench stormed the field as though they were heading back to the final, rather than merely the round of 16.
Angel Di Maria cried. Javier Mascherano, who played much of the second half with blood streaming down his face, hugged every one of his teammates. There was a joyous grin across Messi’s face seemingly for the first time in two weeks.
“Our players play with their heart,” the embattled Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said. “They are true rebels.”
The Nigerians collapsed to the turf. A draw would have sent them through, and referee Cuneyt Cakir of Turkey very nearly handed them a second penalty kick late in the second half. It would have provided a golden opportunity for a goal that would have almost guaranteed them advancement. Instead, they ended up standing in shock on the sideline, staring at Argentina celebrating.
“We did everything we could,” said Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel. “In the second half we pushed and pushed. We got the goal, we played well. It just wasn’t to be.”
Messi, whose heroics in the final game of qualifying saved Argentina last fall, scored in the 14th minute. The goal appeared to wake Argentina from its Russian stupor. The Barcelona star had been shut out in the first two games, even missing a penalty kick against Iceland. Cutting through Nigeria’s defense, he collected Ever Banega’s perfect ball from the midfield line, letting it deflect off his thigh before he fired his shot inside the far post.
It was a moment of relief as much as it was delirium for the tens of thousands of blue-and-white striped fans who somehow managed to corral most of the tickets here.
The Nigerians, who had looked so deft and athletic in their 2-0 win over Iceland last week, had no answers through the first half. It was as if Nigeria had expected the bickering, disinterested and ineffectual version of Argentina to show up, the group that had rebelled against their coach and seemingly quit against Croatia. Instead, it was the Argentina of old that took the field, and there was nothing Nigeria could do about it.
Until, that is, Argentina gave them a chance. Three minutes into the second half, Mascherano, Argentina’s veteran defender, who has looked every day of his 34 years, took down Leon Balogun with a rugby tackle in the penalty area on a corner kick.
A minute later Victor Moses easily slid his penalty kick past Franco Armani. Nigeria, which needed only a draw to advance, was alive. The shaky, unpredictable Argentina was back, missing on passes and whining to the referee for penalties and yellow cards.
Then as the minutes ticked toward elimination, Messi’s crew recovered, and seized back control of the game, but Nigeria still nearly had its chance to put the game away when it appeared Rojo had committed a hand ball. With 15 minutes to play, he headed the ball into his arm as he defended a centering pass.
Cakir blew his whistle and went to the sideline to check the replay. Rarely has the site of a middle-aged man watching television caused so much tension. Cakir ruled against a penalty.
Mikel said he did not understand how Cakir did not award the penalty and never got an explanation. “It was clear,” he said. “The ball hit his hand.”
When Ganzalo Higuain missed an open shot from 8 yards with 10 minutes to play, it looked like it was not going to be Argentina’s night. Then came Mercado’s charge down the right side, a rocket to the front of the goal, and Rojo slicing in to meet it.
Sampaoli, whose team has reportedly been in a state of revolt in recent days, tried just about everything on this night. Clad in a blazer and high-fashion jeans for the first two matches, he showed up on the sidelines for the third game dressed like a middle school gym teacher in a track suit. He sat the Manchester City star Sergio Aguero, and he replaced goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero, who gifted Croatia a goal, with Armani.
Now Argentina will take on France, in a match that could have been worthy of a final. They will need the very best version of Argentina to get past Les Bleus.
“I know who they are, and I know what we have to do,” Messi said. “It’s going to be a very tough game.”
Here’s how Argentina survived Nigeria and advanced to the round of 16:
90’ + 3: Messi Down
Messi cut down and stays there, milking clock. It’s deafening in St. Petersburg now.
90’ + 2: Argentina Starts the Celebration
The Argentines in the stands are standing and dancing and waving their shirts over their heads. They can’t believe what’s happened in the last five minutes.
90’ +1: Stoppage Time
Four minutes of added time.
91’: Mascherano’s Bloody Day
Mascherano’s bloody face is sure going to look great in the photos from this. No one will remember his blunder to surrender the penalty.
90’: Nigeria Brings Offense
Nigeria sends on a striker, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, to try to steal one back. But it sure feels over.
Croatia Helps
A second Croatia goal in Rostov! That’ll finish Iceland, so if Argentina hangs on, they’ll have done it.
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