PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP):

Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 in the last World Cup Group F match yesterday, with Lionel Messi and Ahmed Musa scoring two goals each before Marcos Rojo kneed in the winner.

Argentina topped the group and Nigeria also advanced despite the loss, becoming the first African team in the Round of 16 in Brazil.

Messi had his best match of the World Cup so far, scoring twice in the first half to boost his tournament total to four goals, and repeatedly cutting up Nigeria's defence with dazzling runs and clever passes.

"We played against a team that wanted to play," Messi said. "I think we saw a good Argentina. We need to continue on this path."

The Argentina captain needed less than three minutes to finish Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama's clean sheet in Brazil, slamming in the rebound after Angel Di Maria's shot bounced off the post. Nigeria replied within a minute as Musa cut in from the left and beat Sergio Romero with a curling shot toward the far post.

Nearing half-time Messi tested Enyeama with a 25-yard free kick that the goalkeeper struggled to push to a corner. Having found his aim, Messi was ice cold when Nigeria gave up another free kick just moments later from a slightly shorter distance.

The second half started at the same furious pace as the first, with two goals within the first five minutes. First Musa took advantage of confusion in the Argentine defence to score his second. Then Rojo made it 3-2 as he got his right knee on a corner kick three minutes later.