Magic of Messi to the rescue
[caption id="attachment_37181" align="alignright" width="405"] TO THE RESCUE: Germany's Miroslav Klose taps the ball in to score against Ghana at the weekend. Picture: REUTERS[/caption]
ARGENTINA captain Lionel Messi and record- equalling Miroslav Klose of Germany rode to the rescue of their teams with trademark goals on another day of rich entertainment at the World Cup on Saturday.
Messi snatched a 1-0 win for Argentina against plucky Iran with a typical piece of brilliance that put them in the last 16, while Klose equalled the record for World Cup goals of 15 to salvage a 2-2 draw against Ghana.
Messi struck in stoppage time in Belo Horizonte with a superb curling strike, although a moment of genius from the four-times world player of the year added sheen to a lacklustre display from one of the tournament favourites.
The goal was enough to put Argentina through from Group F with a game to spare and was Messi's second of the tournament.
"With Messi, everything is possible," Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said. "Not two goalkeepers could have stopped that shot."
Man-of-the-match Messi's 25m left-foot effort into the far corner past diving goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi sent the Argentine fans packing the Mineirao stadium into raptures.
After beating Bosnia 2-1 in their opening game, Argentina next face Nigeria in Porto Alegre on Wednesday. The Super Eagles won their first World Cup match since 1998 with a 1-0 victory over Bosnia in Cuiaba later on Saturday – leaving the Europeans bottom of the group and no longer able to progress.
Peter Odemwingie's 29th-minute goal at the Pantanal arena lifted Nigeria to second place in the group with four points, behind Argentina on a perfect six.
After a 4-0 demolition of Portugal in their opening Group G match, the Germans looked to be cruising against Ghana when Mario Goetze struck in the 51st minute in Fortaleza.
But the Africans came roaring back, Andre Ayew heading the equaliser three minutes later and Sulley Muntari set up Asamoah Gyan to lash home in the 63rd.
Germany levelled in the 71st thanks to a sharp finish by substitute Klose with his first touch of the ball, moving him level with former Brazil striker Ronaldo as the all-time leading World Cup scorer.
Germany have four points, the United States three, Ghana one and Portugal zero with the latter facing the US last night.
The 36-year-old Klose just about managed a trademark somersault after his goal. – Reuters
