The Group B match between Argentina and Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup was highly anticipated. This was the third time Argentina and Nigeria had been drawn together in the same World Cup group, after 1994 and 2002. The game took place on June 12, 2010, and had fans on the edge of their seats.
Sixteen years prior, Diego Maradona played his final World Cup match against Nigeria. Now, he returned as Argentina’s manager, aiming to leverage his experience to secure a victory against the Super Eagles.
Argentina won all three of their matches, conceding just one goal, and progressed as group winners. South Korea joined them in the knockout stage by virtue of their victory over Greece in the opening match and a draw with Nigeria in the last.
Argentina vs Nigeria, 2010 World Cup
First Half: Early Dominance by Argentina
Argentina kicked off from left to right, with Tevez playing on the right, Higuain on the left, and Messi in the center of Argentina's front three. Nigeria had the first chance when a long cross found Obasi, who beat Gutierrez but shot wide.
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In the 4th minute, Higuain missed a sitter after Messi's penetrative run and low cross. However, Argentina soon took the lead. On six minutes, an unmarked Gabriel Heinze dived forward to head home Juan Sebastián Verón’s corner kick and put Argentina 1-0 up.
After that Messi chance, the resulting corner was swung out by Veron and Heinze, criminally unmarked on the penalty spot, placed a fabulous diving header into the top-left corner. That was superb because there was a man on the line but it was so accurately placed that he couldn't get there.
Messi then forced a fine save from Enyeama in the 6th minute after Odiah gave the ball away to Tevez. Messi continued to be a threat, with another shot saved by Enyeama in the 18th minute.
Argentina sliced Nigeria apart beautifully, with Tevez eventually slipping an angled pass to the right to put Higuain through on goal inside the box.
Messi's outswinging corner from the left found Samuel, who had escaped Kaita, but from eight yards he headed it down into the ground and over the bar.
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Enyeama denied Messi with his best save yet. Messi had a free-kick on the right wing and played a smart, 30-yard one-two with Di Maria. He received the return just inside the box, on the right, and curved a gorgeous effort towards the far top corner. Enyeama leapt to his right and, with his wrong left hand, fingertipped it round the post. That was a lovely save.
After another bewitching run, Messi is taken down 20 yards out, just in from the left corner of the box. Veron strides up elegantly... and curls it high over the bar.
At half time: Argentina led Nigeria 1-0.
Second Half: Nigeria's Fightback and Argentina's Narrow Victory
Early in a dramatic second half, Mascherano first gave away a needless corner before grappling with Balogun from the resulting cross, with Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir going to VAR before awarding the spot-kick.
Victor Moses duly converted, meaning Nigeria were through as it stood.
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Early in the second half, Nigeria pressed for an equalizer. In the 51st minute, Argentina are pressing again and win a corner on the right. Veron flounces around for a bit and then deigns to take it.
Argentina are playing keep ball, and Nigeria can't too much about.
Messi picks up the ball just past the halfway line and goes on a 40-yard slalom, aided by an off-the-ball foul by Tevez. Eventually his shot from the left of the box is blocked at the expense of a corner.
A good chance for Higuain. Messi found him on the right side of the box, and he took a touch before sweeping it low across goal. Enyeama plunged to his right to make a good save.
That was very nearly an equaliser for Nigeria. Odemwingie teased Gutierrez on the left and then pulled it to the left-back Taiwo on the left corner of the box. With defenders converging he simply toebunged it across goal as hard as possible, the old playground tactic. It whistled through defenders and went just wide of the far post.
A 30-yard swipe from Martins is beaten away by Romero. It was straight at him but wobbling a bit, so it was probably sensible to punch rather than catch.
Enyeama denies Messi yet again. Messi, coming infield from the left, played a gorgeous short-range one-two with Di Maria, ran into the box and then spanked it towards goal from eight yards.
Uche misses a great chance! Yakubu got free on the right and, with all the Argentina players running towards their own goal, clipped it smartly back towards the penalty spot. It bounced up a little awkwardly, and Uche sidefooted it high over the bar with his left foot.
This game is far too open for Argentina's liking. Brazil would have bolted the door 20 minutes ago. Yakubu sweeps an effort over from 25 yards.
Messi so nearly gets his goal.
Full time: Argentina won Nigeria 1-0. Argentina should have won by five or six, yet they were not especially convincing with the inevitable exception of Lionel Messi.
Argentina took the lead when Lionel Messi's free kick from the left was turned into the Korean goal by Korean player Park Chu-young.
A free kick was awarded on the left, and Messi's cross was headed in by Gonzalo Higuaín.
In first half injury time, Korea cut the deficit when Lee Chung-yong tackled Martín Demichelis to score.
Two goals from Argentina in the second half sealed a 4-1 win.
Enyeama's saves earned him the man of the match award.
Argentina should be 3-0 up yet, Messi aside, they haven't been especially impressive. Nigeria aren't out of this, because Argentina are so dodgy at the back, but their attack looks pretty pedestrian.
Argentina are hopeless at the back!
The game is stretched to a daft degree now.
This is far from a comfortable finish for Argentina.
There will be a minimum of four minutes' added time.
That's it. Argentina should have won by five or six, yet they were not especially convincing with the inevitable exception of Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi vs Nigeria (World Cup) 2010 English Commentary HD 1080i
Match Summary
The match between Argentina and Nigeria was a tense affair, with Argentina securing a narrow 1-0 victory. Gabriel Heinze's early goal proved to be the difference, although Lionel Messi's performance was a constant threat to the Nigerian defense. Despite the loss, Vincent Enyeama's goalkeeping earned him the man of the match award.
| Statistic | Argentina | Nigeria |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Shots | 15 | 8 |
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Corners | 8 | 3 |
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