Rojo stunner snatches dramatic win for Argentina

St Petersburg: Argentina and Lionel Messi progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup by the skin of their teeth on Tuesday after an 86th minute strike from defender Marcos Rojo gave them a 2-1 win over Nigeria, eliminating the African side.

Croatia advance as winners of Group D with the maximum nine points after beating Iceland 2-1 and Nigeria were just minutes away from joining them before central defender Rojo superbly volleyed home a Gabriel Mercado cross from the right.

Messi had put Argentina ahead in the 14th minute, with a fabulously taken goal but the Africans equalised through a Victor Moses penalty in the 51st minute and the twice World Cup winners struggled to respond to that setback with a ragged second half display.

Fans take photos of Diego Maradona in the stands before the match. Reuters

In front of a massive following of passionate and loud Argentine fans, the game began in ideal fashion for Jorge Sampaoli's side, who had managed just a point from their opening two games.

A perfectly weighted diagonal ball over the top by Ever Banega was sublimely brought down on the outside of his thigh by Messi who then drove past Nigeria's teenage keeper Francis Uzoho to open the scoring.

Lionel Messi celebrates his opening goal. AFP

The selection of Banega proved to be an inspired one by Sampaoli with the Sevilla midfielder providing the quality service that had been lacking in their opening two games.

Banega almost inspired a second goal for the Argentines when he put Angel Di Maria clear, the winger being brought down by Leon Balogun and Messi struck the woodwork from the resulting free-kick with a curler from the left against the far post.

FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentine striker Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Nigeria. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Marcos Rojo (lower) celebrates his goal with Lionel Messi. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Marcos Rojo celebrates scoring their second goal with Lionel Messi. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Marcos Rojo, Lionel Messi and Gabriel Mercado celebrate after the match. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Marcos Rojo celebrates scoring their second goal with Lionel Messi and teammates. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates their second goal with Cristian Pavon. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Marcos Rojo scores their second goal as Nigeria's Francis Uzoho looks on. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates their second goal with coach Jorge Sampaoli. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Marcos Rojo celebrates his goal against Nigeria at the Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Nigeria's Victor Moses celebrates scoring a penalty to equalise during the World Cup Group D match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his goal against Nigeria at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Lionel Messi (left) celebrates his goal against Nigeria and Argentina at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Nigeria at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Lionel Messi controls the ball during the World Cup Group D match at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Former Argentina forward Diego Maradona (centre) celebrates the opening goal against Nigeria at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Former Argentina player Diego Maradona celebrates Messi's goal against Nigeria at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina's Lionel Messi (left) and Nigeria's Brian Idowu vie for the ball during the World Cup Group D match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Saint Petersburg Stadium. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Croatia vs Iceland

Croatia's Ivan Perisic celebrates scoring their second goal with Josip Pivaric. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Croatia vs Iceland

Croatia's Tin Jedvaj, Dejan Lovren and Filip Bradaric applaud fans after the match. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Croatia vs Iceland

Croatia's Ivan Perisic celebrates scoring their second goal with Josip Pivaric and Milan Badelj. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Croatia vs Iceland

Iceland's Johann Berg Gudmundsson reacts after the match. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Croatia vs Iceland

Iceland's Gylfi Sigurdsson (right) celebrates with Johann Gudmundsson after scoring a goal against Croatia at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Croatia vs Iceland

Croatia's Milan Badelj (2nd left) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Iceland at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Croatia vs Iceland

Croatia's Ivan Perisic celebrates after scoring his team's second against Iceland and Croatia at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Croatia vs Iceland

Iceland's Alfred Finnbogason (left) vies with Croatia's Vedran Corluka during the World Cup Group D match at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Croatia vs Iceland

Couple kiss ahead of the World Cup Group D match between Iceland and Croatia at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France's Kylian Mbappe in action. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France coach Didier Deschamps during the match. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France's Kylian Mbappe in action with Denmark's Andreas Christensen and Kasper Dolberg. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France's Olivier Giroud and Denmark's Simon Kjaer. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France's Kylian Mbappe in action with Denmark's Simon Kjaer and Mathias Jorgensen. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France's Nabil Fekir (left) replaces France's Antoine Griezmann during the World Cup Group C match between Denmark and France at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France's Antoine Griezmann fouled by Denmark's Mathias Jorgensen (left) during the World Cup Group C match between Denmark and France at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

Denmark's Simon Kjaer in action. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

Denmark's Thomas Delaney speaking to referee Sandro Ricci after sustaining an injury. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

Denmark's Andreas Cornelius vies for the header with France's Presnel Kimpembe (right) during the World Cup Group C match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France's Paul Pogba's mother Weo (right) and Bolivian girlfriend Maria Saues (left) await the World Cup Group C match between Denmark and France at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

A football fan looks on before the World Cup Group C match between Denmark and France at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France and Denmark players at half time. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

France's Olivier Giroud shoots at goal. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

Denmark's Mathias Jorgensen is shown a yellow card by referee Sandro Ricci. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Denmark vs France

Denmark's Mathias Jorgensen is shown a yellow card by referee Sandro Ricci. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Australia's Tim Cahill looks dejected after the match. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Australia's Mathew Leckie in action with Peru's Miguel Trauco. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Peru's Christian Cueva in action with Australia's Tomi Juric. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Australia's Mathew Ryan reacts after the match. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Peru's Paolo Guerrero celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Australia at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on June 26, 2018. / AFP
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Peru's Andre Carrillo (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal against Australia at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on June 26, 2018. AFP
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Australia's Mathew Leckie in action with Peru's Edison Flores. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Peru's Christian Cueva in action with Australia's Trent Sainsbury. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Australia fans at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Peru's Miguel Trauco in action with Australia's Mathew Leckie. Reuters
FIFA World Cup: Australia vs Peru

Australia's Tomas Rogic (left) vies for the ball with Peru's Christian Cueva during the World Cup Group C match at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on June 26, 2018. AFP

It had been an impressive half from Argentina but the game was to take a twist shortly after the interval. Defending a corner, Argentine defender Javier Mascherano jockeyed Leon Balogun inside the area and when the Nigerian fell to the floor, Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir awarded a penalty.

After lengthy and impassioned protests from the Argentine players, Moses managed to keep his cool and slot past Franco Armani to level the scores. Nigeria wasted several chances to add a second and secure their place in the last 16 before the unlikely source of Manchester United central defender Rojo kept Argentina alive and left Nigeria in despair.

Argentina go on to face France in the next round while Croatia take on Denmark.

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FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

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FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

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FIFA World Cup: Nigeria vs Argentina

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