Argentina were only four minutes away, in addition to damage time, from slamming out of the competition when Rojo guided a splendid shot into the base corner.
Marcos Rojo’s stunning late finish kept Argentina’s World Cup 2018 dream alive and broke Nigerian hearts in the process.
Argentina were just four minutes away, plus injury time, from crashing out of the tournament when Rojo steered a brilliant shot into the bottom corner.
Nigeria appeared to be earning the point they needed to make the last 16 thanks to a cooly struck Victor Moses penalty cancelling out Lionel Messi’s superb opener in the 14th minute.
But Rojo showed remarkable nerves of steel and technique to hit Gabriel Mercado’s cross first time into the net to send the Argentina fans wild. France will be their opponents in the next round. Croatia will face Denmark.
All the pressure in the build-up to the game was definitely on Argentina. Talk of rifts in the camp between coach Jorge Sampaoli and his players have run rife during the tournament.
Knowing they needed a win to have any chance of progressing to the knock-out stage after picking up just one point from two games, the Argentina line-up was totally different.
The most notable absentees were Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, perhaps for different reasons.
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(REUTERS)
Caballero paid the price for his horror show in the 3-0 loss to Croatia last time out, while Aguero appeared to have been disciplined for publicly criticising Sampaoli after that second game.
There was a lot of speculation that Sampaoli had little say in the five changes made overall or the switch to a 4-4-2.
In contrast Nigeria named the same XI that impressed during the 2-0 victory over Iceland. Unfortunately for them, this match must have felt like it was being played in Buenos Aires, rather than on neutral territory in Russia.
For the vast majority of the crowd were all Argentina fans, making the kind of racket that would inspire any team to victo
Nigeria appeared to freeze on the big occasion in the first half and Messi didn’t hesitate to capitalise.
Roared on by his beloved supporters and perhaps invigorated by Argentina legend Diego Maradona’s presence in the stands, Messi ran Nigeria ragged.
Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi did his best to intimidate him early on by blocking an early run with a crude challenge, but it had no effect.
Just seven minutes later, the Barcelona collected a fine pass from Ever Banega and smashed the ball into the top corner. The TV cameras cut away to the sight of Maradona staring up into the heavens as if it was a moment of divine intervention.
Apart from the sublime goal, Messi played one sublime pass for Gonzalo Higuain to run on to but his shot was saved by Francis Uzoho.
The Nigeria keeper then came to his side’s rescue again by tipping Messi’s fine free kick on to the post to ensure Argentina were only one goal up at the break. It was a key moment in the match.
For Nigeria came out a team re-energised after the break. Perhaps they needed a strong word or two from manager Gernot Rohr to spark them into life.
It also helped that they were awarded the spot kick for Javier Mascherano pulling back Leon Balogun at a corner, soon after the restart. It settled their nerves and dented the confidence of the Argentina players.
Suddenly Messi was being negated and the legions of Argentina fans became a hindrance rather than a help as they began to turn on their players with every misplaced pass or shot.
Looking dangerous on the counter attack, substitute Odion Igahlo missed a glorious chance to secure the win by dragging a shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
For a brief moment, it looked like Nigeria might get a second penalty when Marcos Rojo headed the ball onto his own hand, but referee Cuneyt Cakir rightly said no after watching a VAR replay.
Igahlo still had time to see another shot saved by keeper Franco Armani and it proved costly as Rojo made a dramatic late impact.
Nigeria gave off an impression of being acquiring the point they expected to make the last 16 on account of a cooly struck Victor Moses punishment counteracting Lionel Messi's sublime opener in the fourteenth moment.
Be that as it may, Rojo demonstrated noteworthy nerves of steel and method to hit Gabriel Mercado's cross first time into the net to send the Argentina fans wild. France will be their adversaries in the following round. Croatia will confront Denmark.
All the weight in the development to the amusement was unquestionably on Argentina. Discuss breaks in the camp between mentor Jorge Sampaoli and his players have run overflowing amid the competition.
Knowing they required a win to have any possibility of advancing to the thump out stage in the wake of getting only one point from two diversions, the Argentina line-up was entirely unexpected.
The most remarkable truants were Chelsea guardian Willy Caballero and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, maybe for various reasons.
There was a considerable measure of theory that Sampaoli had little say in the five changes made by and large or the change to a 4-4-2.
Conversely Nigeria named a similar XI that inspired amid the 2-0 triumph over Iceland. Shockingly for them, this match probably felt like it was being played in Buenos Aires, as opposed to on an impartial area in Russia.
For most by far of the group were all Argentina fans, making the sort of racket that would rouse any group to triumph.
Nigeria seemed to solidify on the huge event in the principal half and Messi didn't falter to underwrite.
Thundered on by his dearest supporters and maybe strengthened by Argentina legend Diego Maradona's quality in the stands, Messi ran Nigeria worn out.
Previous Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi did his best to scare him at an opportune time by hindering an early keep running with an unrefined test, however it had no impact.
Only seven minutes after the fact, the Barcelona gathered a fine go from Ever Banega and crushed the ball into the best corner. The TV cameras remove to seeing Maradona gazing up into the sky as though it was a snapshot of awesome mediation.
Aside from the brilliant objective, Messi played one radiant go for Gonzalo Higuain to keep running on to however his shot was spared by Francis Uzoho.
The Nigeria manager at that point acted the hero again by tipping Messi's sans fine kick on to the post to guarantee Argentina were just a single objective up at the break. It was a key minute in the match.
For Nigeria turned out a group re-invigorated after the break. Maybe they required a solid word or two from administrator Gernot Rohr to start them into life.
It additionally helped that they were granted the spot kick for Javier Mascherano pulling back Leon Balogun at a corner, not long after the restart. It settled their nerves and marked the certainty of the Argentina players.
All of a sudden Messi was being discredited and the armies of Argentina fans turned into a deterrent as opposed to an assistance as they turned on their players with each lost pass or shot.
Looking perilous on the counter assault, substitute Odion Igahlo missed a sublime opportunity to anchor the win by dragging a shot wide with the objective at his kindness.
For a short minute, it looked like Nigeria may get a second punishment when Marcos Rojo headed the ball onto his own particular hand, yet ref Cuneyt Cakir appropriately said no in the wake of viewing a VAR replay.
Igahlo still had room schedule-wise to see another shot spared by attendant Franco Armani and it demonstrated expensive as Rojo had a sensational late effect.
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