FIFA World Cup 2014 Argentina v/s Nigeria: Messi 2, Moosa 2; Argentina scrape through 3-2 against Nigeria

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Here is the final group standing for Group F:

FULL TIME:

In an explosive game with double goals scored by Messi & Musa, Argentina win by just one goal; Argentina 3-2 Nigeria. 2 goals flew in, in just the first 4 minutes, while the start of the second half proved to be just as explosive as another two goals went through. Argentina remains the top of the group, while both teams progress to the round of 16. 

90 + 3' Lavezzi commits a foul.

90 +1' Biglia comes off the bench to replace Higuain.

90' 4 minutes of added time.

82' Onazi sees his effort go off target.

80' Nwofor comes off the bench to replace Odemwingie.

79' Musa looking for a hat trick, takes a shot on target, but it's blocked by the keeper.

77' Lavezzi takes a shot on target but it's blocked by the keeper.

74' Nigerian players are really trying hard to equalise the score. Attacking from all corners.

69' Lavezzi swings in the corner.

67' Odemwingie commits a foul.

66' Uchebo comes off the bench to replace Babatunde.

63' Argentina captain and double goal scorer Lionel Messi comes out to give Robeto Alvarez a chance to play. Looks like Argentina will rest their strongest player for the round of 16.

62' Mikel takes a shot at the goal, but is blocked Romero.

58' Messi is on fire, running circles round the Nigerian defence. He's looking for room to make a hat trick.

55' Higuain takes a shot on target.

51' Oshaniwa gets a Yellow Card.

50' GOAL! Rojo scores his first international goal for Argentina, making the score 3-2.

Rojo http://t.co/ZvRcGvixgJ

— Football Vines (@FootballVines) June 25, 2014

50' Di Maria takes a shot, but it's blocked by the keeper.

49' Omeruo gets a yellow card.

47' GOAL! Musa scores once more for Nigeria.

Musa and Argentina defence http://t.co/m0yZV0xUxa

— Football Vines (@FootballVines) June 25, 2014

HALF TIME:

STAT: Messi has scored 24 goals in his last 23 international appearances.

45 + 1' GOAL! Lionel Messi shoots a brilliant free kick, giving Argentina the lead.

44' And Messi almost makes the score 2-1, but Enyeama blocks the shot.

43' Mikel concedes a free kick. Lionel Messi steps up to take it.

39' Di Maria takes a corner kick. Fernandez takes a shot on target bu Enyeama blocks it.

38' Yobo commits a foul.

38' Lavezzi comes off the bench to replace Aguero after medical staff come on the pitch to attend to him.

33' Lionel Messi takes a swing from the corner.

27' Emenike commits a foul.

25' Di Maria takes a shot, but it's off target.

21' Onazi takes a shot on target, but is blocked by Fernandez

* FIFA Fact - Only twice before have two goals been scored in the first 4 minutes of a World Cup match: Austria-Czechoslovakia (3rd min and 4th min) in 1954 and Soviet Union-Hungary (2nd min and 4th min) in 1986

17' Messi takes a corner kick.

15' Onazi concedes a free kick.

12' Lionel Messi looks to be in tip-top form today, many expect at least one more goal from the Barcelona striker.

10' Higuain challenges the keeper, but fails to place the ball well enough for a goal.

9' Di Maria takes a shot but it's blocked by Nigerian keeper Enyeama.

4' GOAL! Ahmed Musa fires back for Nigeria, showing Argentina they won't go down without a fight.

Brilliant goal MUSA http://t.co/HUKDMNbdkm

— Football Vines (@FootballVines) June 25, 2014

3' GOAL! Lionel Messi delivers, and scores a fantastic goal in the first 3 minutes.

Lionel Messi ladies and gentlemen http://t.co/csYPxFEEti

— Football Vines (@FootballVines) June 25, 2014

1' The whistle blows and the match begins!

* The national anthem are under way and the match will begin momentarily.

* The squads have been announced:

#ARG LINE-UP: Romero, Garay, Zabaleta, Gago, Di Maria, Higuain, Messi (c), Mascherano, Rojo, Fernandez, Aguero #NGAARG #WorldCup #joinin

— FIFAWorldCup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 25, 2014

#NGA LINE-UP: Enyeama, Yobo (c), Ambrose, Musa, Odemwingie, Emenike, Mikel, Oshaniwa, Onazi, Babatunde, Omeruo #NGAARG #WorldCup #joinin

— FIFAWorldCup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 25, 2014

* The Group F match between Argentina and Nigeria will begin shortly

Argentina take on Nigeria in their last group match at Estádio Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre. Argentina have already bbooked their spot in the Round-of-16, as they won their previous two Group F matches, with their captain Lionel Messi on the score-sheet in both the matches. 

Also Read: Lionel Messi not enough, Argentina must turn one-man band into full orchestra

Argentina sit comfortably on top of Group F with six points with Nigeria on four points. The Super Eagles drew their opening match against Iran, but managed to win against Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the help of Peter Odemwingie's strike in the 29th minute.

Read The Full Match Preview Here.

Argentina Team Profile

The Argentina national football team is one of strongest teams from South America. It is controlled by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the governing body for football in Argentina. The home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro Sabella. Nicknamed  'Albicelestes', Argentina has appeared in four World Cups. They made it to the first ever final in 1930, but lost 4–2 to Uruguay.  Argentina won their first ever World Cup in 1978, as they defeated the Netherlands 3–1. Diego Maradona led Argentina towards their second World Cup glory in 1986.

Argentina won a 3–2 against West Germany. In the 1990 World Cup final, Argentina lost 1–0 to Germany by penalty kick in the 85th minute. Argentina have a successful record in the Copa América as they won it 14 times. They also won the 'extra' South American Championships in 1941, 1945 and 1946. In 1992, the team won the FIFA Confederations Cup and the Kirin Cup. The Argentine Olympic team won the Olympics football tournaments in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. Argentina,along with France, are the only two national teams that have won the three most important men's titles recognized by FIFA: the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, and the Olympic tournament.

Read the Full Team Profile

Players to Look Out For: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Javier Macherano

Read More: FIFA World Cup 2014: Argentina strikers must help defenders

Nigeria Team Profile:

Having won the 2013 African Nations Cup and the 2013 Under-17's World Cup Nigeria are the flag-bearers of the African continent and their authoritative coach Stephen Keshi is hoping a certain stability in the national game means they can target the quarter-finals.

To do so they'll have to negotiate their way past two-time winners Argentina, newcomers Bosnia and outsiders Iran in the group phase.

Coach Keshi is a former international himself and has the distinction of winning the African Cup of Nations as a player in 1994 and as a coach in 2013, having taken over as Nigeria boss in November 2011. In fact Keshi's experience in coaching is exclusively in national teams, with Togo and Mali his previous charges.

Nigeria has a population of 170 million so Keshi's has a huge talent pool to choose from.

Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has been on brilliant form at club level with Lille this year and is the most experienced international in the outfit. The full backs Elderson Echiéjilé and Celtic's Efe Ambrose, who was named in the team of the tournament for the 2013 CAN are steady and versatile while Chelsea's on loan 20-year-old centre-half Kenneth Omeruo was also an ever present during both the CAN and the Confederations Cup.

Read the Full Team Profile

Players to Look Out For: John Obi Mikel

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