The way Iran was defending, it was always going to take a little
magic from Lionel Messi to send Argentina into the second round of the
World Cup.
Until stoppage time on Saturday, Messi had been stifled by Iran's
solid back line. Then, out of nowhere, the Argentina captain produced
something very special, as he has done so many times for Barcelona, by
scoring a stunning goal for a 1-0 victory.
Goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who watched the goal from the other end of the pitch, said Messi "rubbed his magic lamp and we won." Messi was more pragmatic.
"When I saw that I had scored I was very happy, because we were
in added time already and wanted to qualify for the next phase," he
said.
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella watched as Iran tightly marked his star player, but said he always had faith that Messi might deliver when it counted.
Argentina's
Lionel Messi acknowledges applause after scoring his side's lone goal
in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Iran during the Group F World Cup match
between Argentina and Iran at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte,
Brazil, on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who watched the goal from the other end of the pitch, said Messi "rubbed his magic lamp and we won." Messi was more pragmatic.
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella watched as Iran tightly marked his star player, but said he always had faith that Messi might deliver when it counted.
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