Argentina Through to Round of 16 Beating Nigeria 2-1 at FIFA World Cup

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - Argentina are through to the round of 16 after a late goal from Marcos Rojo gave them a 2-1 victory against Nigeria in St. Petersburg.

In a game they had to win to progress, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi revived Argentina's hopes of reaching the round of 16 after giving his side the lead in the 14th minute. He fired the ball from an acute angle into the far corner of the net.

Messi could have doubled Argentina's lead in the first half from a free-kick, but he was desperately unlucky as the ball came back off the post.

Victor Moses turned the game around for Nigeria after converting a penalty soon after the half-time break, which was awarded after a foul by Javier Mascherano.

Marcos Rojo won it for Argentina with a sumptuous right-footed volley into the bottom left hand corner with minutes left, to ensure the South American side qualify for the round of 16.

Argentina’s reward as Group D runners-up is a match against one of the pre-tournament favorites France, who won pool C. Meanwhile Nigeria, who finished in third place, are out of the World Cup.