2018 World Cup: Nigeria 1-2 Argentina - As it happened

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Jun 26, 2018. 21:50

Welcome to as-it-happened coverage of the 2018 World Cup Group D match between Nigeria and Argentina from the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.

Line-ups

Nigeria: Francis Uzoho, Leon Balogun, Brian Idowu, William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho

Argentina: Franco Armani, Marcos Rojo, Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Angel di Maria, Ever Banega, Javier Mascherano, Enzo Nicolas Perez, Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi

Commentary (press F5 to refresh)
All times CAT

90+5' - Full time - Nigeria go out of the World Cup! Argentina's dramatic win sees them join Croatia in the last 16. A heartbreaking defeat for the Super Eagles, who arguably deserved so much more.

90+4' - Yellow card - Messi into the book. Surely it's all over now for the West Africans...

90+2' - Substitution - Simeon Nwankwo replaces Musa in the final change for Nigeria.

90+1' - Yellow card - Mikel into the book. There will be four minutes of added time.

90' - Substitution - Omeruo makes way for Alex Iwobi in another change for Nigeria.

89' - Argentina now looking to slow the game down as much as possible.

88' - Can Nigeria fight back in what remains of the game?

86' - GOAL! Nigeria 1-2 Argentina - Mercado with a great cross from the right, Rojo fires home a low shot on the volley! He may have just sent the Super Eagles out!

85' - Etebo shoots for goal from a free kick... side netting, a close call for Argentina!

83' - A mistake at the back lets Ighalo in on goal, but he's denied from a tight angle by Armani!

81' - Higuain misses a great chance, firing high over the bar after meeting a cut-back from the left! Major let off for Nigeria!

80' - Substitution - Sergio Aguero replaces Tagliafico in the last change for the South Americans.

79' - Just over 10 minutes left. You get the feeling there's more drama to come in Saint Petersburg...

76' - And the referee is coming over to look at the replay, this could be a second penalty for Nigeria... nope, the official argues that it was accidental from Rojo.

75' - Iceland are level at 1-1 in the other Group D game. Nigeria on the counter, Ighalo with a great chance but his shot is wild and wide. There's an appeal for a hand-ball just before it, VAR are reviewing...

74' - Musa continues to look dangerous with his pace. If Argentina start throwing men forward, Nigeria can really hurt them on the counter...

72' - Substitution - Max Meza replaces Di Maria for Argentina.

71' - Higuain looks for a shot from long range, but it's charged down. Nigeria break away and Ndidi sends a powerful shot just over the target!

68' - Midway through the second half. With the other Group D game seeing Croatia lead 1-0, Nigeria would advance with a draw here.

66' - Di Maria mis-controls a ball and gets some jeers from his own fans. There's a sense of frustration building for the South Americans...

64' - Yellow card - Banega booked for a lunge on Ndidi in midfield.

62' - Pavon's speedy run down the right ends with Troost-Ekong slicing the ball out for a corner kick.

61' - Substitution - Cristian Pavon replaces Perez in Argentina's first change.

59' - Musa skins Mascherano down the left, but his pull back for Igahlo is cleared by Rojo.

57' - A Messi free kick whipped into the penalty area, but Nigeria defend strongly.

55' - Ighalo claims he has been elbowed in the head by Tagliafico but the referee reckons it was a fair aerial challenge.

52' - Di Maria goes down in the box, but there's no penalty in reply for the South Americans.

51' - GOAL! Nigeria 1-1 Argentina - Moses coolly dispatches the spot kick to make it 1-1! Nigeria back in last 16 contention!

49' - Yellow card - Penalty to Nigeria! Mascherano is cautioned for hauling down Balogun at the corner kick!

48' - Musa with a long throw-in which earns Nigeria a corner kick early in the second stanza.

46' - Substitution - Back underway in the second half. Nigeria have made a change at the break, replacing Iheanacho with Odion Ighalo.

45+3' - Half time - Nigeria have been completely outplayed by Argentina in the first half, but the good news for the Super Eagles is they are just one goal down. They'll need to be much better in the second half, but this game is still up for grabs.

45' - Iheanacho caught accidentally by Rojo as the defender makes a clearance. The Nigerian forward receives some treatment and should be okay to play on.

43' - A clash of heads between Iheanacho and Mascherano. Both are okay to play on after picking themselves up off the turf.

41' - The pace of Musa almost causes real trouble for Argentina, but goalkeeper Armani comes off his line to clear.

39' - Balogun wins a strong header against Mascherano. The Super Eagles need to win more of their individual duels to get a foothold in the game.

37' - Lovely feet from Di Maria as he works the ball to Banega despite being surrounded by three defenders. Argentina's 'big guns' have decided to turn up tonight.

35' - In fact, TV replays show Uzoho got a fingertip or two onto Messi's free kick... it was actually a great save from the 'keeper.

34' - Messi shoots direct for goal from a free kick... off the post! So close to 2-0 for 'La Albiceleste'!

32' - Yellow card - Balogun trips up Di Maria as he looks to sprint on goal and the defender is arguably lucky not to see red...

31' - Past the half-hour mark, it's all Argentina right now. Nigeria need to hang in there and keep themselves within touching distance.

29' - Nigeria's 'keeper is okay to continue after some treatment ad restarts play with a long ball forward.

27' - Messi with a wonderful pass to give Higuain a scoring chance, but Uzoho bravely smothers the ball and is injured in the process.

26' - Strong play from Etebo to hold off Banega. The Super Eagles looking to build some pressure as the half-hour mark approaches.

23' - Midway through the first half, Argentina lead 1-0 thanks to a strike from the great Lionel Messi.

21' - The other Group D game is 0-0, meaning Argentina would join Croatia in the last 16 as things stand. Long way to go, though...

20' - Etebo gets a talking to from the referee after some remonstration. Nigeria need to just settle down and work their way back into the game...

18' - Di Maria swings in a cross from the free kick, but it's a foul awarded against the team in white and blue.

17' - Balogun chops down Di Maria on the left flank and Argentina have a free kick in a dangerous position.

14' - GOAL! Nigeria 0-1 Argentina - Banega with a great pass to pick out Messi, who sprints into the box before crashing a right-footed shot beyond the 'keeper!

13' - Argentina give the ball away inside their own half, but Iheanacho can't get a pass or shot away before he's hunted down by Mascherano.

11' - Omeruo with some good defending in his own penalty area as Argentina begin to up the pressure in attack.

9' - Musa tries a long range shot and the ball is just over the crossbar. Goalkeeper Armani looked to have it covered.

8' - Tagliafico gets away a shot from just inside the box, but the ball flashes wide of Uzoho's right-hand post. First warning for Nigeria...

7' - Etebo with a powerful surge forward, but his strike on goal is blocked by Otamendi.

6' - Argentina enjoying a strong spell of possession at the moment.

4' - Uzoho claims a long ball through Nigeria's defence. The 19-year-old 'keeper will hope he can make a name for himself against Argentina's world-class attackers.

2' - Possession changing hands rapidly as the teams looks to settle in the early minutes.

1' - Kick-off - We are underway in Saint Petersburg! Nigeria wear their dark green strip, Argentina are in their famous white and sky-blue stripes.

19h55 - The teams are out on the pitch and kick-off is imminent. Our referee is Cuneyt Cakir of Turkey.

19h45 - These teams have met in four previous World Cup matches and the 'Super Eagles' have been on the losing side on each occasion. Will that finally change tonight?

19h30 - Half an hour to kick-off, the line-ups are in and the players are out on the pitch warming up. It's a crunch match for both teams, as they battle for a place in the last 16. Argentina must win to have any hope, while Nigeria could advance with a draw depending on the result of the other Group D game between Croatia and Iceland in Rostov-on-Don.