Argentina win over Nigeria
Sunday, 13 June 2010
JOHANNESBURG, June 12 (AFP): Lionel Messi conjured a spellbinding opening to the World Cup highlighting Argentina's 1-0 win over Nigeria in their Group B match at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday.
The world's best player was in irresistible form as the two-time world champions dominated Nigeria, but only had Gabriel Heinze's sixth-minute goal to show for their superiority in an exhilarating spectacle before 55,686 noisy fans.
Messi taunted the Africans with his mesmerising skill and virtuosity and was denied his first goal at South Africa 2010 only by the acrobatic saves of Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
With coach Diego Maradona prowling his sideline technical area for the whole match, Argentina could not find the second killer goal as the uninhibited Nigerians came close several times in the second half to grabbing an equaliser.
It was a rasping Messi volley tipped over the bar by Enyeama that indirectly led to the only goal in the opening minutes.
The world's best player was in irresistible form as the two-time world champions dominated Nigeria, but only had Gabriel Heinze's sixth-minute goal to show for their superiority in an exhilarating spectacle before 55,686 noisy fans.
Messi taunted the Africans with his mesmerising skill and virtuosity and was denied his first goal at South Africa 2010 only by the acrobatic saves of Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
With coach Diego Maradona prowling his sideline technical area for the whole match, Argentina could not find the second killer goal as the uninhibited Nigerians came close several times in the second half to grabbing an equaliser.
It was a rasping Messi volley tipped over the bar by Enyeama that indirectly led to the only goal in the opening minutes.