The World Cup Group F games are over and Argentina and Nigeria are advancing to the Round of 16.
The teams played a tight match on Wednesday, with Argentina winning 3-2 behind two goals from Lionel Messi and another from Marcos Roja.
Nigeria was fortunate, though, because Bosnia beat Iran. If Iran had won then it could have advanced instead of Nigeria.
Argentina has now won the group with 9 points after it beat all three teams. Nigeria ended with four points after a win, a draw, and the loss.
The standings and points before Wednesday’s games (FIFA)
The standings after the games. (FIFA)
Nigeria will face the winner of Group E, which at this point is France.
Argentina will face the runner-up in Group E, which at this point is Ecuador but could end up being France, Switzerland, or Honduras.
Honduras-Switzerland and Ecuador-France are playing at 4 p.m. EDT today.
See an Associated Press story below
Argentina beats Nigeria 3-2 as both teams advance
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil—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.
Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa kicks between Argentina’s Marcos Rojo, left, and Angel di Maria, right, to score his side’s second goal during their group F World Cup soccer match at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, left, is carried by his teammates Argentina’s Angel di Maria (7) and Marcos Rojo (16) after scoring his side’s first goal during the group F World Cup soccer match against Nigeria at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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.
