The world’s best player was in irresistible form as the two-time world champions dominated Nigeria, but only had Gabriel Heinze’s sixth-minute goal to show for their superiority in an exhilarating spectacle before 55,686 noisy fans.
With coach Diego Maradona prowling his sideline technical area for the whole match, Argentina could not find the second killer goal as the uninhibited Nigerians came close several times in the second half to grabbing an equaliser.
It was a rasping Messi volley tipped over the bar by Enyeama that indirectly led to the only goal in the opening minutes. Sebastian Veron’s corner picked up unmarked Heinze hurtling in late and the Marseille defender headed powerfully past Enyeama to send the large contingent of Argentine fans wild.
Goal-keeper versus star strikers
Argentina had numerous scoring chances, none more so than Messi’s charge on goal nine minutes from time. Yet again he was thwarted by Enyeama’s blocking feet to keep the Nigerians in the game. On another occasion Carlos Tevez triggered a counter-attack from deep inside his own half in the 65th minute and set up Messi only for him to shoot agonisingly past the post with Enyeama beaten.
Argentina have won all three of their matches with Nigeria at the World Cup after winning 2-1 at the 1994 tournament in the USA – Maradona’s last international appearance as he was then sent home in disgrace for failing a drug test – and 1-0 at the 2002 Korea/Japan edition. Nigeria’s last victory at the World Cup was back in 1998 when they beat Bulgaria 1-0 and since then the Super Eagles have lost five games and drawn one.
South Korea outrun Greece
World Cup 2002 co-hosts and semi-finalists South Korea registered the first win at the 2010 World Cup, a richly deserved 2-0 victory against Greece, thanks to a goal apiece from Lee Jung Soo and captain Park Ji Sung.
The workman-like Asian side - who proved too quick and too smart for Otto Rehhagel’s Euro 2004 champions - grabbed this Group B fixture by the scruff of the neck as early as the seventh minute when Celtic’s Ki Sung Yueng’s freekick from beside the left corner flag skimmed over the heads of the Greek defence for Lee to volley in at the far post.
Seven minutes after the break and two changes later, Greece, who have never had the pleasure of celebrating a World Cup goal, fell further behind after a masterful charge by the sparky Park.
The talismanic Manchester United midfielder beat off defenders Avraam Papadopoulos and Loukas Vyntra to slot the ball deftly past Tzorvas, triggering a flurry of flag waving among the Korean fans.
Rehhagel
Making his debut as a World Cup finals manager at the age of 72, the Greek coachsaid Korea had deserved their win, before adding: “I’m always disappointed to lose a match, whether its the qualifiers of the World Cup. The Koreans played very well, they fought hard, they used their chances, we didn’t.”
Park
“Argentina is, of course, the strongest team in our group and people are saying they could make the final. They have a lot of top international players. Before the World Cup, we played a friendly against Spain and we thought about Argentina as we were playing that game.”
Enyeama
The Nigerian goal-keeper stood between the goal and three world-class strikers in Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez, blocking Messi’s curling left-footers that tormented Arsenal in the Champions League, and making a total of ten saves to deny Argentina a flying start.
Messi
The diminutive 22-year-old striker, nicknamed “The Flea,” put in a performance to confound critics who said maverick manager Diego Maradona could not bring out the best in him. Though he did not score, Messi peppered the goal with shots, drawing a string of finger-tip saves from the Nigerian goal-keeper.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 13th, 2010.
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