Argentina 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Lionel Messi makes his mark to seal victory

By MARTIN SAMUEL

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2658638/Argentina-2-1-Bosnia-Herzegovina-Lionel-Messi-makes-mark-seal-victory.html

It was only 65 minutes in, but it had seemed an age. Nothing was going right. Free-kicks flew wastefully into orbit; darting runs were extinguished almost at inception; passes were snuffled up by the blue meanies of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Maracana stadium, an Argentinian enclave in Rio de Janeiro for the night, yearned for their little master to assume his rightful place as the true star of this World Cup, but it was not his night.

Lionel Messi had only scored one World Cup goal in his career, the same as Matthew Upson, and that was eight years ago. In match time, 623 minutes had expired since he last struck for Argentina on this stage.

In with a shout: Lionel Messi roars with delight after scoring Argentina's second goal

In with a shout: Lionel Messi roars with delight after scoring Argentina’s second goal

Precise: Messi slides the ball in off the post to give Argentina a 2-0 lead

Precise: Messi slides the ball in off the post to give Argentina a 2-0 lead

Turning it on: Messi hits his shot from the edge of the area after leaving two Bosnia defenders (left) in a heap

Turning it on: Messi hits his shot from the edge of the area after leaving two Bosnia defenders (left) in a heap

Master at work: Messi watches his shot hit the post and go into the goal

 

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