[1]Diego Maradona’s Argentina are laden with a host of young hot shot starlets, but it was the two oldest members of the team who combined to secure a narrow 1-0 win over ‘Super Eagles’ Nigeria in their Group B opener at Ellis Park here on Saturday.
Former Manchester United teammates Juan Sebastian Veron (35) and Gabriel Heinze (32) played a pivotal role as the Albiceleste eked out a win. In the 7th minute, off Veron’s corner kick, an unmarked Heinze connected a diving header to score the only goal of the match.
With the stands drowned in a sea of sky blue and white, Argentina started the match quick off the gates. In the fourth minute Lionel Messi dazzled past a couple of Nigerian defenders on the left-flank and centred the ball perfectly for Gonzalo Higuain, but a Nigerian defender got a crucial touch to prevent what would have been a simple tap-in from five yards out.
A couple of minutes later the ball fell nicely for Messi, the diminutive wizard fired a left-footer but his shot was deflected for a corner by Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama. In the 18th minute Messi again went close.
Cutting inside from the right flank and placed the ball perfectly towards the far corner, but Enyeama at full stretch palmed the ball to safety. Messi came close in the 36th, 48th and 66th minutes as well but Enyeama once again foiled his attempts.
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