FIFA World Cup: Result NIGERIA 1 – 2 ARGENTINA, Tuesday 26 June 2018

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35% Ball Possession NIGERIA and 65% Ball Possession ARGENTINA

  Nigeria 1 – 2 Argentina Argentina

51′ Victor Moses (pen)                             14′ Lionel Messi
.                                                                         86′ Marcos Rojo

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Stats BEFORE the game.
  • Nigeria,  2nd position with 3 points and a goal difference of “0”
  • Argentina, 4th position with 1 point and a negative goal difference of -3

It was a much needed victory.   Argentina winning the First Stage Group D game on Tuesday 26 June at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia.  This victory guaranteed Argentina the qualification to the Round of 16 and will face France.   Nigeria is eliminated. Heroes for Argentina are Captain Lionel Messi opening the score and defender Marcos Rojo scoring the winner goal. Croatia advance as Group D Leader.

First Stage Group D Standing After Matchday 3

Croatia in the 1st position with 9 points and a positive goal difference of +6. Argentina in the 2nd position with 4 points and a negative goal difference of -2. Nigeria in the 3rd position with 3 points and a negative goal difference of -1. Iceland in the 4th position with 1 point and a negative goal difference of -3.

Argentina opening the score in the 14th minute. It is Captain Lionel Messi to give a joy to the thousands of Argentineans fans at the Stadium shouting this goal including the great “Diego Armando Maradona” watching from the Tribune. Messi defeating Nigeria goalkeeper Uzoho with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner. The assist is by Éver Banega with a through ball.

The honor goal for Nigeria happening in the 51st minute. Victor Moses converts a penalty defeating Argentina goalkeeper Armani with a right footed shot in the center. The penalty was conceded by Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano after a foul on Leon Balogun inside the penalty area.

The moment of joy, the final cherry on top of the ice cream is for Argentina in the 86th minute. It is defender Marcos Rojo to smack a right footed shot all the way to the bottom right corner. The assist is by Gabriel Mercado with a cross. It was the needed goal to secure the passing to the Round of 16. Surely, a tense match and much needed boost for the morale of the team.

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Italian Serie A Players with Nigeria and Argentina

Argentina National team:   5 Italian Serie A players, AS Roma defender Federico Fazio, Torino defender Cristian Ansaldi, AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia, Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain, and Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.

Nigeria National team: 1 Italian Serie A and 1 Serie B players Torino midfielder Joel Obi (Serie A) and Crotone forward Simeon Nwankwo (Serie B).
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Photo:   twitter.com/fifaworldcup

 

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First stage – Group D

Nigeria 1 – 2 Argentina
Tuesday 26 June 2018
Saint Petersburg Stadium
Saint Petersburg, Russia

21:00 Local time

Referee: Cuneyt CAKIR (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Bahattin DURAN (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tarik ONGUN (TUR)
Fourth Official: Bjorn KUIPERS (NED)
Res. Assistant: Sander VAN ROEKEL (NED)

Goals/b>: 14′ Lionel Messi (A), 51′ Victor Moses (pen)(N), 86′ Marcos Rojo (A)

Official lineups – formations:

NIGERIA (4-3-3): Uzoho; Idowu, Ekong, Balowun, Omeruo; Ndidi, Mikel, Etebo; Iehanacho, Musa, Moses.

Substitutes: Ezenwa, Akpeyi, Iwobi, Ebuehi, Shehu, Ighalo, Nwankwo, Onazi, Obi, Ogu, Awaziem, Echiejile

Coach:  Gernot Rohr

ARGENTINA (4-3-3) – Armani; Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico; Perez, Mascherano, Banega; Di Maria, Messi, Higuain.

Coach: Jorge Sampaoli