World Cup 2018: Super Eagles sent packing by ruthless Argentina
Nigeria’s Super Eagles failed to capitalise on glorious chances as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Argentina to crash out of the 2018 World Cup prematurely.
Odion Ighalo was particularly wasteful as he missed two sitters that would put the game to bed, with Nigeria hanging on the thinnest of threads to salvage a draw that would see them through.
The Super Eagles were eventually punished for their wastefulness after the unlikeliest of heroes, Marcos Rojo sent home a sensational low volley to send Nigeria packing from Russia and hand some lifeline to beleaguered Argentina coach, Jorge Sampaoli.
Messi gave Argentina the lead in St Petersburg on Tuesday, the Barcelona superstar scoring a stunner to bring up the 100th goal of Russia 2018 after being fed brilliantly by Ever Banega.
But when Javier Mascherano dragged down Leon Balogun in the box shortly after the restart, Victor Moses stepped up to roll Nigeria level and within touching distance of progressing.
Sampaoli sent on attackers Cristian Pavon, Maximiliano Meza and Sergio Aguero, but it was defender Rojo who came up with a brilliant winner.
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The right-wing cross from another defender, Gabriel Mercado, was perfectly placed for Rojo to arrive late and slam home an improbable, unstoppable finish that extends Argentina’s stay at the World Cup.
In the other group D encounter at Roatov, Ivan Perisic scored late on to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Croatia over Iceland.
Ivan Perisic’s late goal ensured Croatia topped World Cup Group D with maximum points as they knocked out a resilient Iceland with a 2-1 win.
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 76th-minute penalty gave Iceland hope of mounting a comeback following Milan Badelj’s opener, but Perisic made sure of the points for Croatia in the dying embers.
Croatia will now meet Denmark in the round of 16 in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday, while Iceland’s maiden appearance at a World Cup comes to an end despite their best efforts to turn the game around.
Argentina’s win on the otherhand, sets up a round of 16 rendezvous with France at Sochi on saturday.
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