Score a perfect 10 for Day 10 of the World Cup.
Here's how it all shook out:
Argentina 1-0 Iran |Full Recap
A heroic defensive effort for Iran was undone in second half stoppage time by Argentina star Leo Messi, who scored a fantastic winner to steal all three points for an otherwise underwhelming Albiceleste.
Check out video of Messi’s goal below:
The win pushed Argentina through to the Round of 16 and put a dent. Iran can still advance to the knockout phase with a win in its Group F finale over already-eliminated Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Nigeria loss to Argentina and a little bit of work on goal difference over the Super Eagles. Both sides will finish up group play on Wednesday.
Germany 2-2 Ghana | Full Recap
Germany and Ghana played possibly the match of the tournament on Saturday, drawing 2-2 in Fortaleza in a fantastically played affair.
The first half wasn’t much to write home about, but the second 45 was scintillating, with the sides trading blows like two prizefighters in a heavyweight bout. Germany opened the scoring in the 51st minute, going ahead through Mario Gotze. Ghana hit back ferociously, with Andre Ayew equalizing in the 54th and Asamoah Gyan scoring in the 63rd to put the Black Stars ahead 2-1. Germany had an ace up its sleeve however, with substitute forward Miroslav Klose tying the all-time World Cup record with his 15th career goal in the tournament to pull things level in the 71st.
The draw obviously has huge implications for the U.S.’s tournament hopes. Things could shake out any number of ways pending the result of Sunday’s U.S.-Portugal match, but – for now – the U.S. will go through with a win over Portugal on Sunday. Let’s hope Kyle Beckerman and the boys pull it off.
Germany and Ghana will both finish up Group G play on Thursday, with Germany taking on the U.S. and Ghana facing off against Portugal.
Bosnia-Herzegovina 0-1 Nigeria| Full Recap
Nigeria caught a few breaks en route to its 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday, but that won’t matter much to the Super Eagles, who now look a good bet to advance out of Group F.
Bosnia-Herzegovina forward Edin Dzeko had a goal incorrectly called back for offside in the first half and Nigeria capitalized, scoring the match’s lone goal in the 29th minute – less than 10 minutes after Dzeko’s disallowed strike – through Peter Odemwingie.
The Super Eagles’ goal was a bit controversial as well, with Bosnia arguing that forward Emmanuel Emenike fouled a defender en route to assisting on Odemwingie’s strike.
Bosnia nearly equalized on several occasions in the second half, coming closest to finding a goal deep into second half stoppage time when Dzeko bounced a shot off Nigeria ‘keeper Vincent Enyeama and off the post.
The result eliminated the Bosnians from contention for the Round of 16 and put Nigeria in second place in Group F with one match remaining in the round robin stage. Both sides will finish up group play on Wednesday, with Nigeria facing Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina taking on Iran. Nigeria will book passage to the Knockout Round with a win over Argentina or an Iran loss/draw against Bosnia.
