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Attendance: 43,285
Nigeria national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 25, 2014 at 5pm UK
 
Argentina national football team

2-3

Musa (4', 47')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Messi (3', 45'), Rojo (50')

Half-Time Report: Argentina ahead against Nigeria

Argentina hold a 2-1 lead over Nigeria at the break in their lively World Cup encounter.

Argentina hold a 2-1 lead over Nigeria at the break in their lively World Cup encounter this evening.

It took Argentina just two minutes to open the scoring as Lionel Messi powered the ball into the net from close range after Angel di Maria's initial effort had come back off the post.

However, Nigeria got themselves level just one minute later when Ahmed Musa cut in from the left before curling the ball past Sergio Romero and into the far corner.

Lionel Messi celebrates with Argentina teammates Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo after opening the scoring against Nigeria in their World Cup Group F match on June 25, 2014© Getty Images

The Argentines responded by creating two decent chances in quick succession, but Gonzalo Higuain fired wide on the angle after Di Maria's drive had been batted away by the goalkeeper.

Argentina continued to search for a second goal, and it almost came in fortunate circumstances on 19 minutes when John Obi Mikel headed narrowly wide of the post when trying to clear a free kick.

Ahmed Musa of Nigeria celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match against Argentina on June 25, 2014© Getty Images

Despite the presence of Messi and Sergio Aguero, Di Maria was Argentina's most dangerous threat during the first half, as demonstrated by two further efforts that had Nigeria worried.

A strong opening 45 minutes for the South Americans was soured towards the end when Aguero was taken off with a possible leg strain, but they were able to regain the lead in the first minute of stoppage time as Messi curled a free kick past the goalkeeper from 25 yards.

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Argentina pose for a team photo prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Nigeria and Argentina at Estadio Beira-Rio on June 25, 2014
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

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Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

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Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

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Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

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Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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