ARGENTINA 2-1 MEXICO

ARGENTINA 2-1 MEXICO
Argentina needed extra time and a wonder strike from Maxi Rodriguez to give them a 2-1 victory over Mexico and a place in the quarter-finals of Germany 2006 in Leipzig on Saturday, 24 June 2006.
After a fast and furious start, Mexico took the lead with just five minutes on the clock. Pavel Pardo's free-kick from the right was flicked on by Jared Borgetti and Rafael Marquez swept the ball home at the far post.


It took just four minutes for the Albiceleste to draw level. Juan Riquelme’s corner from the right was touched in by Hernan Crespo and despite a series of chances for both sides, 1-1 was how it stayed for the remaining 80 minutes of normal time.
In the 98th minute, Juan Sorin’s fine cross-field pass was chested down by Rodriguez and the Atletico Madrid man fired home a left-footed volley to book his side a date with Germany in Berlin’s Olympiastadion on 30 June.
6': But Mexico had certainly started the better of the two sides and emphasised that with the game’s opening goal. Pardo swung over a fine free-kick, Borgetti back-headed across the six-yard box and captain Marquez drove it home at the back post. (0-1)
10': The lead lasted just four minutes. Riquelme, celebrating his 28th birthday, saw a 22-yard free-kick deflected for a corner which he himself took and Crespo flicked the ball into the net under pressure from Borgetti. (1-1)
98':Argentina put together a move which ended with a goal worthy of winning any game. Messi, from a central position midway inside Mexico’s half, played the ball out wide to Sorin. A left-footed delivery picked out Rodriguez on the left-hand edge of the penalty area, he took the ball under control on his chest and on the volley thundered a shot into the top right-hand corner of Sanchez’s net. (2-1)
It took a world-class goal to separate these two in an otherwise evenly balanced game. The win sets up a mouth-watering clash between the South Americans and Germany in Berlin on Friday.