The Hindu : Sport / Football : Argentina to meet Nigeria

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Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

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Argentina to meet Nigeria

UTRECHT: Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 2-1 win over Brazil on Tuesday and into the final of the World Youth Championship, earning a title match against Nigeria, which beat Morocco 3-0.

Argentina will be seeking its fourth title in six tries having won in 1995, 1997 and 2001.

Messi, an FC Barcelona prodigy, scored his fourth goal in the seventh minute and was the architect of Argentina's 93rd-minute winner by Pablo Zabaleta.

``It's always beautiful to beat Brazil,'' Messi said.

Defender Taye Taiwo, Olubayo Adefemi and Chinedu Ogbuke scored for Nigeria, ending Morocco's improbable run and putting the west African nation in the final for the first time since it lost to Portugal in 1989.

Argentina will face Nigeria on Saturday in Utrecht.

Messi's goal came on Argentina's first attack, eluding two defenders, and launching a powerful shot from outside the area that curled inside the right post.

``I found a little space on the right, looked up, and aimed for the goal,'' he said.

Brazil held an edge in possession, but its best chances were on set pieces, while Argentina was more dangerous on counters.Brazil's Renato nodded a free kick into the left corner to equalise in the 75th, and the game seemed headed for extra time.

But three minutes into injury time, Messi stole a ball and dribbled deep into the goal box before crossing it into the middle. Brazil failed to clear, and Zabaleta pounced, hitting it in off a defender's leg. In the other semifinal, Morocco tried to remain compact defensively, but was simply overwhelmed.

— AP

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