PORTO ALEGRE — Ahmed Musa became the first Nigerian ever to score more than once in a World Cup match as a brace from Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a thrilling 3-2 win over the Super Eagles at Estadio Beira-Rio yesterday.
The win sees Argentina secure top spot in Group F, while Stephen Keshi’s men also qualified for the last 16, after Bosnia defeated Iran 3-1. Keshi is the first African coach to lead an African team into the knockout stages of the World Cup.
The few Nigerian fans in the crowd also left happy because their team advanced to the knockout phase thanks to Bosnia’s 3-1 win over Iran.
The group finished with Argentina on nine points, Nigeria on four, Bosnia on three and Iran on one.
The match at Beira Rio stadium was as close as Argentina will come to a home game at this World Cup as an estimated
150 000 fans flooded across the border into this southern port city looking to get in on the party.
Argentina opened the scoring as early as the second minute, as Lionel Messi blasted home from close range, after Vincent Enyeama tipped Angel Di Maria’s effort on to the bar.
However, the Super Eagles hit back straight away, as Ahmed Musa’s delightful curling effort levelled matters for the African giants.
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The next chance only arrived in the 30th minute, as Di Maria forced Enyeama into a fine stop from the 25-yards out.
Enyeama was called into action in the 43rd minute, as he pulled off yet another fine save to keep out Messi’s free-kick.
However, The Argentine number 10 was not going to be denied a second time, as he curled one past the Super Eagles’ shot stopper from 25-yards out to give Argentina the lead.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first, as Ahmed Musa played a neat one-two with Emmanuel Emenike, before slotting past Romero.
Argentina restored their lead three minutes later through Marcos Rojo’s close range effort, after a flick by Ezequiel Garay.
Enyeama came to Nigeria’s rescue once again in the 54th minute, as he came rushing off his line to deny Gonzalo Higuain from close range.
Efe Ambrose came close in the 86th minute, as he evaded one challenge before firing into he side-netting.
However, the loss did not affect the Super Eagles, as they still managed to progress into the last 16.
Bosnia beat Iran 3-1 in their Group F
finale in Salvador yesterday to record their first World Cup win and deny the West Asians any chance of reaching the knockout stage.
Already eliminated after two losses, Bosnia, appearing at a major tournament for the first time as an independent nation, went ahead in the 23rd minute through Edin Dzeko.
Bosnia doubled their lead just before the hour through Miralem Pjanic’s cool finish before Reza Ghoochannejhad pulled a goal back for Iran in the 82nd minute. Avdija Vrsajevic restored Bosnia’s two-goal cushion with a fine strike a minute later. Iran had required all three points against Bosnia and needed Argentina to beat Nigeria to have any shot of grabbing a surprise place in the last 16.
Bosnia opted to ditch a cautious 4-5-1 setup in favour of the attack-minded 4-4-2 that brought them 30 goals in qualifying, restoring Vedad Ibisevic up front alongside Dzeko.
The result was a more controlled performance, the Bosnians bossing most of the first half and taking the lead when Dzeko dropped deep into space to collect a pass before travelling to fire in low off the post from just outside the box.
Iran almost got level seconds after the restart when Masoud Shojaei struck the crossbar with a deft chip.
In a scrappier second half, Bosnia scored a second when Dzeko picked up a loose ball that allowed Tino Sven Susic, nephew of Bosnia coach Safet Susic, to slide in Pjanic for a tidy finish.
Despite the roars of support the dogged defensive qualities that have won Iran plaudits in Brazil suddenly looked a little ragged and they struggled to reproduce the swift attacks that had worried twice champions Argentina in their last game.
Ghoochannejhad provided a moment of cheer when he ensured Iran would avoid being the only team not to score in Brazil, scoring from close range after Bosnia failed to clear their lines quickly enough.
The cheers were short-lived though as rightback Vrsajevic’s marauding run saw him played in to thunder a third home off the far post, earning Bosnia their first win over Iran in six attempts.
Meanwhile, Ghana have solved a row over World Cup appearance fees after President John Mahama intervened, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and coach Kwesi Appiah said yesterday.
Appiah, whose side faces Portugal in a Group G game today needing a combination of results to qualify for the last 16, said the money would arrive in Brasilia in the next few hours. The GFA said in a statement: “We wish to assure the general public following President Mahama’s intervention the Black Stars are in high spirits ahead of today’s match last Group G match against Portugal.”— Reuters
