Argentina beat Nigeria but waste many chances to make the victory emphatic

Argentina 1 Nigeria 0

The Diego Maradona World Cup experience got off to a winning start in Johannesburg this afternoon, but already it is worth asking the question: will Argentina’s fantastic attack be fatally undermined by their fragile defence?

The uncontrollable Lionel Messi might have had a hat-trick, or even the four goals he scored against Arsenal in the Champions League last season, but for the heroics of Nigeria’s goalkeeper. But Argentina’s defending was distinctly dodgy during an entertaining match at Ellis Park in front of a near-full, and wildly loud and exuberant, crowd.

Chief culprit was the right back, Jonás Gutiérrez, of Newcastle United. He was exposed time and again and a better team than Nigeria – whose composure in front of goal was abject – would have scored a couple of goals. Do not expect many more 1-0 scorelines in Argentina’s future games.

The warning signs were there early on as the impressive Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi, preferred to Obafemi Martins and Nwankwo Kanu, skipped past Gutiérrez but pummeled a shot well wide.

The first piece of Messi magic came seconds later, as the Barcelona forward dribbled beyond three defenders and centred for Gonzalo Higuaín, who looked to have an easy tap-in but pushed his shot wide from six yards. Then, after seven minutes, Messi forced Vincent Enyeama into a fine save with a well-placed effort heading for the top corner.

No matter. From that resulting set-piece, Gabriel Heinze, the Marseilles and former Manchester United defender, made a late, unnoticed run and propelled a bullet header into the roof of the net from near the penalty spot. Chidi Odiah, the defender on the line, could only help it on its way.

After 20 minutes, the lead should have been doubled but Higuain, put through by Tévez, was again found wanting and his poor shot was well saved.

Nigeria proved well capable of exploiting the struggling Gutiérrez, but their shooting was utterly wayward throughout.

Given a floating role, and certainly not weighed down by any Nigerian markers, Messi was denied again by more exceptional goalkeeping after 37 minutes. He cut inside and curled a shot towards the far corner but Enyeama was equal to it.

It summed up Gutiérrez’s first half that he went to clear a 50-50 ball, missed it completely, brought down Ogbuke Obasi – and was booked.

The second period was more even. Again, Messi was almost irresistible. He nearly crowned an incisive counter-attack with a neat finish on 64 minutes but sent his shot fractionally wide. Soon afterwards, Enyeama made another fine save from a low Higuain attempt.

Then it was Nigeria’s turn to mount a sharp counter-attack but Peter Odemwingie, a substitute, carelessly lost control of the ball down the left. Inside the final twenty minutes, Taye Taiwo, the Nigeria left back, flashed a long-range effort narrowly past the post, as Lars Lagerback’s side made a gallant bid to salvage a point.

Nigeria’s best and last chance came inside the final ten minutes when Klalu Uche stole into the area, unmarked, but scooped over Ayegbeni Yakubu’s bouncing cross. There was still time for Messi to be denied yet again, this time by a last-gasp tackle, after a mesmerising dribble and smart one-two with Diego Milito, a substitute.

Argentina are going to be fun in this tournament. They should have few problems progressing from group B now. But how far can they go with a defence like that?

Argentina (4-3-1-2): S Romero – J Gutiérrez, M Demichelis, W Samuel, G Heinze – J Verón (sub: Maxi Rodríguez, 74min), J Mascherano, A Di María (sub: N Burdisso, 85) – L Messi - C Tévez, G Higuain (sub: D Milito, 79). Booked: Gutiérrez.

Nigeria (4-3-3): V Enyeama – C Odiah, J Yobo, D Shittu, T Taiwo (sub: K Uche – S Kaita, D Etuhu, L Haruna – C Obuke Obasi (sub: P Odemwingie, 60), Y Ayegbeni, V Obinna (sub: O Martins, 53). Booked: Haruna.

Referee: W Stark (Germany).