Marcos Rojo scored a stunning late goal against Nigeria to rescue Argentina's World Cup hopes on Tuesday, progressing from Group D alongside Croatia to set up a last-16 match against France. Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the tournament in the first half but Victor Moses equalised shortly after half-time to put the South Americans on the brink of an exit before Rojo's late strike. In the other match, Croatia beat Iceland 2-1 to top the group with nine points. (Highlights: Nigeria vs Argentina) (Highlights: Iceland vs Croatia)
Highlights of 2018 FIFA World Cup, Argentina vs Nigeria, straight from Saint Petersburg Stadium
01:30 IST: Thank you for joining us for the live blog.
01:25 IST: FULL-TIME | Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 to qualify for the Round of 16. Marcos Rojo scored the winner for the Lionel Messi-led team.
01:21 IST: FULL-TIME | Croatia beat Iceland 2-1 to finish top of Group D.
01:19 IST: Four minutes of added time for both the Group D matches.
01:18 IST: Group D standings after the goals.
01:17 IST: GOOAALL!! Ivan Perisic scores in the 90th minute to give Croatia a 2-1 lead vs Iceland.
01:16 IST: GOAALL!! 87th minute -- Marcus Rojo is the saviour for Argentina tonight as he appears from nowhere and puts the ball in the back of the Nigerian goal. Argentinians are ecstatic and they are back in the driving seat.
01:12 IST: 84th minute -- Nigeria get a free-kick in a dangerous position. Etebo curls the ball in only to find the side of the net.
01:09 IST: Just over ten minutes to go and Higuain misses an opportunity to the ball in the back of the net. Argentina have created a lot more chances but none of them were converted.
01:04 IST: GOOAALL !! Gylfi Sigurdsson scores from the spot as Iceland equalises in the 70th minute. | Iceland 1-1 Croatia.
01:01 IST: Musa wins the ball on the half line, makes a dash down the left flank and passes the ball down the middle, Ndidi, who made a run down the middle, shoots and the ball flies inches above the crossbar. That was so close!
01:00 IST: 20 minutes of left play -- Both the teams are trying their hard to score another goal.
00:50 IST: Pavon makes a dash down the right flank, crosses but Ekong slides and clears away the ball for a corner. Di Maria misses an opportunity with a header.
00:47 IST: In a single minute, Group D changed dramatically.
00:43 IST: GOOAALL!! In the other match, Milan Badelj gives Croatia a 1-0 lead vs Iceland.
00:39 IST: GOOAALLL!! Mascherano gets booked for a yellow card as the referee blows his whistle and Nigeria have a penalty. Victor Moses scores from the spot to give his team an important equaliser. | Nigeria 1-1 Argentina.
00:35 IST: The second-half of the Nigeria vs Argentina match and Iceland vs Croatia starts.
00:20 IST: Key stats --
00:17 IST: HALF-TIME | Argentina lead Nigeria 1-0 and it is still goalless in the Iceland vs Croatia match.
00:15 IST: Two added minutes for the both the Group D matches.
00:10 IST: Players to score Goal 100 of a World Cup.
00:07 IST: Will we see a repeat performance?
00:03 IST: 33rd minute -- Leon Balogun is booked for clipping Di Maria's heel as the latter for making a run down the middle. Argentina get a free-kick. Messi curls the ball in but Uzoho dives to his left and gets his finger tips as the ball hits the far post and bounces off.
00:00 IST: 30 minutes are up -- Argentina look confident as Nigeria are yet to find their footing. In the other game, Croatia are dominating Iceland.
23:57 IST: 27th minute -- Messi provides a brilliant pass down the middle as Higuain charges and reaches the ball but the Nigerian keeper, Francis Uzoho, got to the ball just seconds before. Close, close chance as Argentina would've doubled their lead.
23:55 IST: After 25 minutes, it is still goalless in the match between Iceland and Croatia.
23:54 IST: Argentina have woken up after the goal as they are controlling the tempo of the game and are creating chances. Nigeria, on the other hand, have failed to capitalise on two of their chances.
23:44 IST: GOAAALLL!!! Lionel Messi scores as Argentina lead Nigeria 1-0 in the 14th minute. Banagea gets possession, looks for Messi and passes to Messi, who was making his run down the middle. Messi receives the ball on hi chest, controls and shoots the ball past the Nigerian keeper.
23:40 IST: Messi makes a run down the left flank but the Nigerian defence does not let the ball through.
23:37 IST: Etebo get an early opportunity but the Argentinian defence blocks the shot. On the counter, Messi is fouled as Argentina get a free-kick. Banega slips a clever pass through to Tagliafico, who charges into the area but shoots high and wide.
23:35 IST: Five minutes are up -- Both Argentina and Nigeria look nervous and the passes are going astray.
23:30 IST: KICK-OFF!! The Group D matches between Nigeria-Argentina and Iceland-Croatia starts.
23:25 IST: Nigeria and Argentina are walking out of the tunnel for their respective national anthems. In the other match -- Iceland vs Croatia -- the pre-match rituals are taking place.
23:20 IST: We are few minutes away from the kick-off. Stay tuned.
23:10 IST: Team formations --
22:35 IST: Iceland -- Hannes Halldorsson; Birkir Saevarsson, Sverrir Ingason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Hordur Magnusson; Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Aron Gunnarsson, Emil Hallfredsson, Birkir Bjarnason; Gylfi Sigurdsson; Alfred Finnbogason
22:30 IST: Croatia -- Lovre Kalinic; Tin Jedvaj, Vedran Corluka, Duje Caleta-Car, Josip Pivaric; Milan Badelj, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric; Marko Pjaca, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic
22:25 IST: Nigeria -- Francis Uzoho; Bryan Idowu, William Ekong, Leon Balogun; Victor Moses, Wilfred Ndidi, John Obi Mikel (capt), Oghenekaro Etebo, Kenneth Omeruo; Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa
22:20 IST: Argentina -- Franco Armani; Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico; Enzo Perez, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega; Lionel Messi (capt), Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria
22:15 IST: The starting XI of Nigeria and Argentina have been announced. Angel Di Maria included, Sergio Aguero benched. The starting XI of Iceland and Croatia too have been announced
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