Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the group F World Cup soccer match against Nigeria at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)(AP Photo/Jon Super) (AP2014)
In a back-and-forth affair, Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 in their last World Cup group match on Wednesday, with Lionel Messi and Ahmed Musa scoring two goals each before Marcos Rojo kneed in the winner.
"You saw a good Argentinian team today," Messi told a sideline reporter after the game. "We found more open space and were able to create a little more."
Argentina won all three of its matches to win Group F and will face either Ecuador or Switzerland in the Round of 16.
Nigeria also advanced despite the loss.
The game's opening was frenetic, with Messi scoring in the third minute, slamming in the rebound after Angel di Maria's shot bounced off the post. Nigeria replied within a minute as Musa cut in from the left and beat the Albiceleste goalie, Sergio Romero, with a curling shot toward the far post.
Messi's perfectly hooked free kick restored the lead for Argentina just before halftime.
The second half started at the same furious pace as Musa scored his second and Rojo made it 3-2 off a corner kick within the first five minutes.
In the other noon game, Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated Iran, 3-1. The Iranians needed a victory to have a chance of advancing. The Bosnian side was playing purely for pride.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
Follow us on twitter.com/foxnewslatino
Like us at facebook.com/foxnewslatino
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.