Two goals from Carlos Tévez and another one from Gonzalo Higuaín lifted Argentina over Mexico 3-1 and gave La Albiceleste a pass to the quarterfinal round.
Javier Hernández managed to pull one back for El Tri in the second half, but the South Americans' defense, whose solidity has been questioned, held up well to prevent Mexico from mounting a late surge.
Mexico began the game with a line of five in the midfield, hoping to contain Argentina’s offense, mainly magic-man Lionel Messi. The plan worked initially, as Messi wasn’t able to mount much more than a couple of soft shots on target.
Besides handling the Argentines early, Mexico were able to mount a few threats of their own. In the 9th minute, left back Carlos Salcido charged up the left flank and unleashed a rocket from nearly 40 yards out that rattled the crossbar. Just seconds later, El Tri would charge right back up on a counter. Midfielder Andrés Guardado let loose a curler with the outside of his left foot, but it went just wide of Oscar Romero’s right post.
However, it would be Argentina who would strike first. Twenty-six minutes in, Messi broke free of his markers and threaded a ball past the Mexican defense and onto Carlos Tévez, whose first effort was blocked by keeper Óscar Pérez. On the follow through, Messi chipped another pass to Tévez. The striker, clearly offside, headed the ball in to give the South Americans the lead.
Seven minutes later, a misplay by Mexican center back Ricardo Osorio led to Argentina’s second. Try to play the ball from the back, Osorio accidentally poked the ball to Gonzalo Higuaín. The Real Madrid target man charged straight ahead and then juked Pérez and withstood Osorio’s pull to slot the ball in.
Two goals down, a dejected Mexico charged ahead to pull within equalizing range, but it was Argentina who would almost find their third. In the 37th minute, Ángel di María shot low to Pérez far post, but the Mexican keeper got a hand on the ball. His deflection, however, landed at the feet of Tévez, whose shot was blocked by a defender.
Mexico came out roaring in the second half, but Argentina would take advantage of El Tri’s effort to score and buried their third of the night. In the 52nd minute, Tévez took the ball outside of the box and, after his first shot was blocked, found his rebound and let loose a spectacular strike just out of the reach of Pérez.
Three goals down, the Mexicans kept pushing forward against an Argentina who sat back patiently, closed the openings and managed the ball well.
Still, Mexico almost found their first of the night in the 70th minute, when substitute Pablo Barrera first-timed a cross that Gabriel Heinze headed out right on the line.
Just a minute later, Mexico would finally get their goal. Midfielder Gerardo Torrado received a pass from Giovani dos Santos and put through a pass of his own to Hernández. The striker spun to his left past defenders Martin Demichelis and Nicolás Otamendi and ripped the top netting.
The Argentine defense, however, held out well and, two minutes into stoppage, Messi dribbled past two defenders, but his shot was kept out by Pérez.
With the win, Argentina will move on to the quarterfinals, where they will face Germany in yet another rematch of Germany 2006.
Scoring Summary:
ARG -- Tévez
ARG -- Higuaín
ARG -- Tévez
MEX -- Hernández
Lineups:
Argentina -- Romero; Heinze, Burdisso, Demichelis, Otamendi; Di María (Gutiérrez, 79’), Mascherano, Rodríguez (Pastore, 87’); Tévez (Verón, 69’), Messi, Higuaín
Mexico -- Pérez; Salcido, Rodríguez, Osorio, Juárez; Guardado (Franco, 61’), Márquez, Bautista (Barrera, 46’), Torrado, Dos Santos; Hernández
