Lionel Messi waited until injury time to break Iranian
hearts Saturday and give Argentina a scarcely deserved 1-0 victory in Belo
Horizonte in a Group F clash.
Iran had come close to pulling off a major upset with a
series of second half chances until Messi found space just outside the penalty
area to fire home an unstoppable shot.
It was his eighth goal in his last seven appearances for
Argentina and could not have been more timely, a second win securing his side a
last 16 place with a group match to spare.
Messi had also scored what turned out to be the crucial
second goal in Argentina's 2-1 win over World Cup debutant Bosnia Herzegovina
to open its Brazil 2014 campaign.
Before his superb strike, the four-time FIFA World Player of
the Year had been kept largely quiet by the dogged defense of the Iran, who had
drawn with Nigeria in its opener.
Argentina dominated possession in the first half, but Iran's
Jalal Hosseini had perhaps the best chance -- however the defender headed over
the bar from a corner.
Iran took the upper hand after the break, with Reza
Ghoochannejad heading straight at goalkeeper Sergio Romero in the 53rd minute
when he should have scored.
Ashkan Dejagah then appeared to have won a penalty soon
after when he was brought down in the area by Pablo Zabaleta, but Serbian
referee Milorad Mazic waved play on.
Dejagah was denied a goal in the 67th minute when the
forward beat Zabaleta to a cross, but saw his header tipped over the bar by
Romero.
Reza also had a great opportunity to secure a famous victory
with five minutes remaining, but it was Romero again to the rescue for
Argentina with another fine save.
Dejagah was denied a goal in the 67th minute when the
forward beat Zabaleta to a cross, but saw his header tipped over the bar by
Romero.
Reza also had a great opportunity to secure a famous victory
with five minutes remaining, but it was Romero again to the rescue for
Argentina with another fine save.
Later Saturday, Nigeria consolidated second spot in Group F
behind Argentina with a 1-0 win in Cuiaba over Bosnia, who are eliminated.
Peter Odemwingie's 29th minute goal secured victory for the
Super Eagles, who drew with Iran in the opening round of matches.
Bosnia was left to curse its luck, with Edin Dzeko having a
goal mistakenly ruled out for offside in the first half, while in stoppage time
the Manchester City striker saw his effort strike the post.
But Nigeria also carried an attacking threat and Emmanuel
Emenike might have added a second only to see his late effort go just wide of
the post.
It was Nigeria's first win at a World Cup since 1998 and
they will face Argentina in the final group games Thursday.