The Malta Independent 27 April 2024, Saturday
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Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 as both teams advance; Bosnia defeat Iran

Malta Independent Wednesday, 25 June 2014, 19:57 Last update: about 11 years ago

Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 in their last World Cup group match on Wednesday, with Lionel Messi and Ahmed Musa scoring two goals each before Marcos Rojo kneed in the winner.

Argentina won Group F while Nigeria also advanced despite the loss.

Messi scored in the third minute, slamming in the rebound after Angel Di Maria's shot bounced off the post. Nigeria replied within a minute as Musa cut in from the left and beat Sergio Romero with a curling shot toward the far post.

Messi's perfectly hooked free kick restored the lead for Argentina just before halftime.

The second half started at the same furious pace as the first as Musa scored his second and Rojo made it 3-2 from a corner within the first five minutes.

Bosnia-Herzegovina ended Iran's hopes of advancing to the knockout stages at the World Cup with a 3-1 victory in Group F on Wednesday.

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Edin Dzeko opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a low shot from 20 metres, deflecting in off the post.

Miralem Pjanic made it 2-0 in the 53rd with an angled shot from inside the box.

Reza Ghoochannejhad gave some hope to the Iranians with a tap-in goal in the 81st, but Avdija Vrsaljevic replied immediately with his low shot from the edge of the area to restore the two-goal buffer.

Iran needed a win to have any chance of advancing. The Bosnians were already out of contention at their first World Cup following consecutive losses to Argentina and Nigeria.

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