Match Report - Argentina v Nigeria: How the South Americans revived their World Cup dreams

Against a young and energetic Nigerian side, Argentina rose from the ashes like a phoenix on Tuesday night as when it was most needed they were able to dig deep and salvage their World Cup Campaign. A Marcus Rojo Volley in the 86^thminute sealed their fate and turned their anguish into jubilation. The fans, substitute bench, and even manager lost control in celebrations as the noise in the St Petersburg arena was as if captain Lionel Messi was lifting the trophy. 

The Barcelona maestro looked like a different man from the one that crumbled under the pressure against Croatia. He was at the center of everything during the first-half as he was replicating the form that we are so used to witnessing. It already was looking like as if Argentina and Messi had buried their hatchet and was now working harmoniously to bring the best out of each other. 

The change of system from Jorge Sampaoli to a 4-3-3 showed to be a bold move that paid off as it was bringing the best out of their star-man. Ever Banega was given his chance to dictate the midfield which also proved to be key to unlocking Messi from his burden of carrying this poor Argentina side. 

After 14 minutes, the pair linked up to produce what may be the goal of the tournament. Banega drifted a ball over the Nigerian defense which Messi caressed and nurtured onto his thigh to bring it under control, then flicked out to set himself up for the shot that was blasted past Francis Uzhoho, the Nigerian keeper. 

Messi run off in celebration with a smile that resembled a Cheshire cat, one that almost showed the weight being lifted from his shoulders. The players ran to meet him before the cameras fixated themselves on the Argentinean legend in the stands, Maradona who celebrated by looking to heavens to give thanks. 

After that Messi showed that he was back in business as he was the man creating everything for Argentina. A signature free-kick of his was met by the post while his pin-point through-ball to Higuaín was not met with the same anticipation. 

A moment of bad judgment from Javier Mascherano seemed to have undone the work that Messi produced in the first half. Six minutes into the second-half the experienced defender produced a moment of madness when he wrestled Nigerian center-half Balogun to the ground. The referee had no choice but to give Nigeria a life-line and point to the spot. The penalty from Moses was unlike his usual self, calm and collective - everything this game had not been so far.  

The second-half struggled to replicate the excitement of the first as Argentina was on the brink of being knocked-out of the World Cup in the group stages for the first-time in their history. Argentina was showing signs of their former-self with a range of stray passes and poor crosses looking like the only bit of action the pundits in the studio could analyse. 

However, a moment of instinct and insanity from an unlikely hero, Marcus Rojo in the 84^thminute changed Argentina’s destiny. The centre-half looked as if he was about to get a nosebleed as he was seen drifting into the box looking for scraps that he could feed off. He was met by a bobbling cross from Gabriel Mercado that volleyed into the bottom corner. 

With their only shot on target in the second-half Argentina had undeservedly sealed their qualification into the last-16 where they will meet France next Saturday in Kazan. Messi’s dream of following Maradona’s footsteps, in lifting the World Cup for his country and then be seen lifting his middle fingers to the pitch in celebration to the next team 32 years later, lives on.