Messi, Argentina to next round

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) scores his team’s second goal on a free kick during first-half stoppage time in a Group F match against Nigeria on Wednesday in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Messi also scored early in the first half in Argentina’s 3-2 victory.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) scores his team’s second goal on a free kick during first-half stoppage time in a Group F match against Nigeria on Wednesday in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Messi also scored early in the first half in Argentina’s 3-2 victory.

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- About a dozen Argentine fans couldn't get enough of the smell of victory Wednesday in the Beira-Rio Stadium, dancing and singing in their seats more than than an hour after their team beat Nigeria 3-2.

They had good reason to celebrate.

Once again Lionel Messi had put on a World Cup show with two goals, but this time his whole team -- aside from a couple of defensive blunders -- was part of the performance.

In its third consecutive victory, Argentina attacked with more flair than previously and could have scored more goals if it weren't for some good saves by Nigeria's goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Ahmed Musa kept things interesting by twice erasing Argentina's lead, before Marcos Rojo kneed in the winner from a corner.

"We played against a team that wanted to play," Messi said. "I think we saw a good Argentina. We need to continue on this path."

Before the match, which saw both teams advance from Group F, Enyeama was the only goalkeeper in the tournament who hadn't conceded a goal. In Porto Alegre it took just three minutes for Messi to beat him.

The Argentina captain slammed 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.

Then just before halftime Messi stunned Enyeama again, with a long-range free kick that rose over the wall then dipped sharply to slip in just inside the post.

"Messi is from Jupiter, he is different," Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said.

The second half started at the same furious pace as the first, with two goals within the first five minutes. First Musa took advantage of confusion in the Argentine defense to score his second. Then Rojo made it 3-2 as he got his right knee on a corner kick three minutes later.

Finding more space to attack, Argentina created more chances than in its previous games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran, but its defense caved in on both of Musa's goals. Another concern for Argentina: Striker Sergio Aguero was injured in the first half, and replaced by Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Argentina had already secured advancement but needed at least a draw to win the group. Nigeria advanced thanks to Bosnia beating Iran, going through on four points.

GROUP E

SWITZERLAND 3, HONDURAS 0

MANAUS, Brazil -- Xherdan Shaqiri scored all three goals Wednesday to put Switzerland into the second round of the World Cup with a lopsided victory over Honduras.

The Swiss will next face Lionel Messi and Argentina on Tuesday in Sao Paulo.

Shaqiri scored his first goal in the sixth minute, dribbling into a crowd of defenders and curling a shot into the net off the underside of the crossbar. In the 31st minute, he collected a pass from Josip Drmic after a defensive error and easily beat Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares.

Shaqiri completed his hat trick in the 71st minute. Drmic did well to beat Honduras defender Victor Bernardez on the left and pass to a charging Shaqiri, who one-timed his shot past a diving Valladares.

Switzerland finished second in Group E behind France, which held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw in the other game.

FRANCE 0, ECUADOR 0

RIO DE JANEIRO -- France topped Group E despite being held to a scoreless draw by 10-man Ecuador.

Ecuador was reduced to 10 men after Antonio Valencia was shown a straight red card in the 50th minute for digging his studs into the leg of French defender Lucas Digne.

But Ecuador may feel upset that France center half Mamadou Sakho was not shown a red card in the eighth minute when he appeared to elbow Oswaldo Minda in the face during a France corner. Then, in a late incident off the ball, France forward Olivier Giroud jabbed his elbow in to Gabriel Achilier, who was standing behind him.

France coach Didier Deschamps made six changes to his starting lineup, knowing his side was all but assured of advancing.

France came closest to scoring when Antoine Griezmann hit the post in the 47th minute and then missed a string of late chances as its much-vaunted attacked failed to live up to the hype generated by last Friday's 5-2 victory against Switzerland.

An inspired Ecuador went close in the 82nd minute when substitute midfielder Alex Ibarra broke down the right, cut inside center half Raphael Varane, and saw his powerful strike beaten away by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

GROUP F

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 3, IRAN 1

SALVADOR, Brazil -- Bosnia-Herzegovina ended Iran's hopes of advancing to the knockout stages from Group F, and registered its first World Cup victory in the process.

The Bosnians, who were already out of contention, took a commanding 2-0 lead with goals from Edin Dzeko in the 23rd minute and Miralem Pjanic in the 53rd minute before Iran hit back in a desperate late bid to qualify for the second round.

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

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.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz announced after the match that he wouldn't be renewing his contract.

Sports on 06/26/2014

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