Roundup: Argentina advances on Rojo’s late winner vs. Nigeria

Center back Marcos Rojo delivered a rocket volley into the right corner in the 86th minute in St. Petersburg, sending Argentina through Group D and into the knockout stage with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria.

Nigeria was on course to go through as the Group D runner-up after Victor Moses converted a 51st-minute penalty kick — awarded for a Javier Mascherano foul on Leon Balogun during a corner kick — which leveled the match at 1-1.

But right back Gabriel Mercado whipped a curling cross into the center of the box, and Rojo powered it home to regain the lead for La Albiceleste. The go-ahead goal came three minutes after Nigeria narrowly missed two chances. First, Argentina goalkeeper Franco Armani parried a shallow-angle attempt from Odion Ighalo, and a minute later, Oghenekaro Etebo curled a free kick into the side netting outside the top right corner.

Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead in the 14th minute after receiving a terrific ball over the top from Ever Banega. Messi brought it down on the run with his left thigh, took a light touch with his preferred left foot and buried it in the left corner with his right for a 1-0 lead.

Advancing with four points, Argentina will face Group C winner France on Saturday in the Round of 16. Nigeria finished with three points in the group stage.

Croatia 2, Iceland 1

Ivan Perisic beat Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldórsson from point-blank range in the 90th minute to give Croatia a 2-1 victory in Rostov-on-Don, securing the top spot in Group D with nine points.

Iceland needed a victory to advance to the Round of 16, but it could not find the go-ahead goal after equalizing on a 76th-minute penalty kick by Gylfi Sigurdsson, which was given for a hand ball in the box by Croatia’s Dejan Lovren. Johann Berg Gudmundsson put a long range shot on goal a minute later, but Iceland threatened no further until after it fell behind.

Croatia had broken the scoreless tie in the 53rd minute when Milan Badelj hammered a volley of a bouncing ball that had been cut back by left back Josip Pivaric, mashing it into the left corner.

Croatia joined Uruguay as the only two teams in the World Cup to win all three matches thus far, drawing Group C runner-up Denmark in a Round of 16 meeting on Sunday. Iceland finished at the bottom of the group with one point.

Peru 2, Australia 0

With no chance of advancing, Peru netted two goals to knock Australia from the World Cup in a Group C knockout game at Sochi.

Watford’s Andre Carrillo scored in the 18th minute to give Peru its first goal in World Cup play since 1982, a shot into the bottom corner of the net that helped sink the Socceroos and gave Peru its first FIFA World Cup win since 1978.

Paolo Guerrero put the match on ice in the 50th minute, pushing Peru’s advantage to 2-0.

Australia finished at the bottom of Group C with one point, two behind Peru, with France (seven) and Denmark (five) going through to the knockout stages.

France 0, Denmark 0

The Group C match featured just four shots on goals — three by France — as neither side found the back of the net at Moscow.

Both teams advanced to the Round of 16, with France drawing Group D runner-up Argentina on Saturday and Denmark to face group winner Croatia on Sunday.

Denmark’s shot on goal occurred in the 54th minute as Christian Eriksen’s right-footed shot from outside the box was stopped by France goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. Nabil Fekir had an opportunity in the 82nd minute for France but his left-footed shot was saved by Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Overall, France took 11 shots to Denmark’s four.

–Field Level Media