2010 World Cup Soccer

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Argentina has set up a tantalising quarter-final clash with Germany after defeating Mexico, 3-1, at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

La Albiceleste set up its win racing away to a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals by Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain.

The second half was a slightly tighter affair as Tevez again and Mexico’s Javier Hernandez exchanged sumptuous strikes; but the Argentineans bossed the game for the most part keeping the Mexicans at bay, with the two-time world champions finishing as 3-1 winners.

While Argentina controlled possession in the early stages of the game, Mexico had two chances to score in the opening ten minutes through Carlos Salcido and Andres Guardado; yet, Salcido’s shot from distance clattered against the crossbar, with Guardado’s strike also flashing just wide as Argentinean goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, looked to have been beaten on both occasions.

Argentina finally created a chance on goal, but Lionel Messi’s attempted chip was smartly palmed down by Mexican goalkeeper, Oscar Perez.

Mexico was beginning to enjoy good amounts of possession as the half wore on, but the most it could show for itself was another Salcido long-range attempt that was well parried by Romero.

Predictably, Argentina opened proceedings in the 26^th minute through Tevez, but it came in controversial circumstances with Tevez looking to be in an offside position when scoring from a close-range header.

It was Messi who was involved again supplying Tevez with a perfect through-ball that Perez did well to block initially; but the resulting play saw Messi chip the ball back at goal, with Tevez claiming the final touch amid vehement protests by the bulk of the Mexican line-up.

Gonzalo Higuain extended the lead in the 33^rd minute after Ricardo Osorio’s horrible first-touch from a simple pass in defence gave the ball up to the Real Madrid marksman.

Higuain didn’t need a second invitation however rounding Perez to slide the ball into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the tournament.

Tevez then lit up a rather dull start to the second half making it 3-0 in the 52^nd minute with an absolute peach from outside the box that left the outstretched Perez with no chance of denying the Manchester City playmaker.

It was increasingly looking like Salcido was Mexico’s best threat to Argentina keeping a clean sheet, with Romero taking no chances from another Salcido pot shot from distance punching the ball away for a corner on the hour mark.

Twenty minutes before time, Mexico thought that it had scored a consolation goal through a Pablo Barrera strike, but replays indicate that the ball was cleared right on the line by Gabriel Heinze.

However, Mexico did get its consolation moments later when Hernandez received the ball before effortlessly turning Martin Demichelis on the edge of the area to thump a shot past Romero at the near post to make it 3-1.

With the game finishing without any real flutter, Messi still couldn’t open his 2010 FIFA World Cup goal-scoring account after his strike on the edge of the area was thwarted by Perez.

However, it didn’t matter for Messi; his side had bigger fish to fry, as the Mexicans quietly bowed out of South Africa 2010 again at the Round of 16.

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