Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Wednesday 27 June 2018

Messi finally scores, Argentina advances at World Cup

By STEVE DOUGLAS showed Maradona need- a second time — and for
AP Sports Writer ing help out of the stands good this time.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) and into an adjoining lux- Instead, it was Messi who
— From his thigh to his foot ury box at the stadium. He was at the center of the cel-
to the back of the net, Lio- appeared to have his eyes ebrations. His teammates
nel Messi finally scored a closed and a later photo formed a circle around
goal at this year’s World showed a pair of paramed- him while striker Gonzalo
Cup. The exquisite strike ics attending to him. Higuain cried nearby. Messi
from the Argentina great There was no immediate in- then clenched his fist as
sparked the first of several formation on his health, but he turned toward the Ar-
celebrations from an ani- about two hours later he gentina fans. “He’s above
mated Diego Maradona, was photographed smiling everybody else,” Argen-
who screamed, shouted at an airport. Another pho- tina coach Jorge Sampaoli
and made obscene ges- to posted on Twitter ap- said. “The most important
tures — and raised con- peared to show him sitting thing for Leo is his human
cerns for his health. on a plane. side. He cries. He suffers.
Argentina staved off elimi- Messi’s goal — his 65th for He’s happy when Argen-
nation with a 2-1 victory Argentina — was surely tina wins. I know him.
over Nigeria on Tuesday, enough to impress even “Many people say Leo
getting a late goal from Maradona. does not enjoy playing
Marcos Rojo. Maradona From a long pass over the for Argentina, but I do not
showed both middle fin- defense by Ever Banega, agree. He enjoys and suf-
Argentina’s Marcos Rojo jumps over Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheana-
cho to stop the ball during the group D match between Argen- gers to the crowd after the Messi caressed the ball with fers like all the other players
tina and Nigeria, at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Peters- 86th-minute winner. his left thigh, took another and that makes him even
burg Stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, June 26, 2018. A short time later, videos touch with his left foot, and bigger.”
Associated Press posted on social media then delivered a smooth Before Rojo’s goal, Nigeria
right-footed finish into the had been only a few min-
corner. utes from qualifying for the
Messi fell to his knees and last 16 for the fourth time.
pointed his fingers upward Javier Mascherano gave
in celebration. At the same away a penalty with a
time, Maradona crossed pull on Leon Balogun at a
his arms with his hands on 49th-minute corner. Victor
his shoulders and looked to Moses converted — and
the sky. marked the goal with a
“I knew that God is with somersault — to put Nige-
us,” Messi said, “and he ria back in control of the
wouldn’t let us get elimi- race for second place in
nated.” the group.
Messi, who later hit the post Argentina was facing finish-
off a free kick, and Banega ing a World Cup without a
controlled the game in the win for the first time since
first half. Rojo finished it off 1934, but instead the team
in the second by cushion- is headed to the knockout
ing a volley with his right stage.
foot into the bottom corner “This is Messi,” Nigeria
and ensuring Messi’s quest coach Gernot Rohr said
for a first World Cup title with a shrug.
continued. GROUP DYNAMICS
Argentina will play France Minutes away from ad-
in the last 16 in Kazan on vancing to the knockout
Saturday. If Argentines win stage, Nigeria ended up
and Portugal beats Uru- third in the group — ahead
guay on Saturday, Messi of Iceland but a point be-
would face Cristiano Ron- hind Argentina.
aldo in the quarterfinals. Argentina has four days
Without that late goal from to prepare for its last 16
Rojo, the 31-year-old Messi match against France. It is
might have retired from the first game of the knock-
international soccer for out stage.q