Argentina Vs. Nigeria Results And Highlights: Lionel Messi Brace Gives Argentina 3-2 Victory Over Nigeria Who Also Advance [VIDEO]

Argentina defeated Nigeria 3-2 in an enthralling contest in Porto Alegre that saw both teams qualify to the round of 16. A first half Lionel Messi brace was matched by a Ahmed Musa double, but a third goal from Marcos Rojo saw the Argentines finish atop Group F having won all three matches. Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated Iran 3-1 to give Stephen Keshi's side the qualification it could have secured for itself with a win or a draw.

The Argentines got off to a flying start when a fantastic ball from Javier Mascherano found Angel di Maria whose shot was blocked, but Messi thumped the rebound into the upper netting giving his side the early advantage. Nigeria equalized immediately from the following attack when a surging run from Michel Babatunde was finished off through a wonderful curling finish by Musa. An exhilarating start to the match with two goals in the opening five minutes was marred when Argentina were forced to make a substitution in the 37th minute when injured Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was replaced by Ezequiel Lavezzi, the Paris St. Germain forward.

The rest of the first half was characterized by long spells of Argentine possession in the midfield, but a certain dullness in front of goal that has been plaguing them all tournament. Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was called into action a few times but after making an initial mistake on the goal, looked up for the challenge. That was, until right before the halftime whistle when a beautifully taken Lionel Messi free kick left Enyeama with nothing to do and Argentina went into the break up 2-1.

Nigeria were back on level terms right back after the restart through Musa's second goal. A good entry pass by Musa to Emmanuel Emenike was returned to Musa who was in on goal and sent Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero the wrong way. But like Nigeria's quick equalizer in the first half, Marcos Rojo returned the favor just two minutes later when the ball struck him in the knee following a corner kick and ricocheted into the back of the net.

The game finished with a terrible report coming out of Nigeria stating that a suicide bomber had struck a busy market in Abuja, the country's capital, killing 21. The horrible event was the second such occurrence in the past week, and will undoubtedly be on the players minds as they continue their journey in the tournament. Argentina will play play the Group E runner up -- either Switzerland, Ecuador, or Honduras -- and Nigeria will face that groups winner, most likely France.