Argentina progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup after an 86th minute strike

Argentina and Lionel Messi progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup by the skin of their teeth yesterday after an 86th minute strike from defender Marcos Rojo gave them a 2-1 win over Nigeria, eliminating the African side. Croatia advance as winners of Group D with the maximum nine points after beating Iceland 2-1 and Nigeria were just minutes away from joining them before central defender Rojo superbly volleyed home a Gabriel Mercado cross from the right. Messi had put Argentina ahead in the 14th minute, with a fabulously taken goal but the Africans equalised through a Victor Moses penalty in the 51st minute and the twice World Cupwinners struggled to respond to that setback with a ragged second half display.