Argentina needed a late Lionel Messi stunner to secure a 1-0 win over a resilient Iran side in Belo Horizonte and a place in the World Cup knockout stages.
Alejandro Sabella's men unsurprisingly dominated the majority of the game but were unable to break down the superbly organised Iranians.
But just as Iran looked to have gained a valuable draw, Messi won the match with a moment of magic in injury time.
The Barcelona man picked up the ball on the edge of the area, quickly moved the ball toward his dangerous left foot before curling an unstoppable effort into the far corner.
"All players who played today have contributed to this victory but of course we have a genius who is called Messi. Fortunately he is Argentine," Sabella told reporters.
"Everybody would have liked to have Messi but it is us who have him.
"It was a very difficult match and Iran played a great World Cup match. But that last play from Lionel, no-one could have stopped it. Not even two goalkeepers could have stopped that Lionel shot."
Alejandro Sabella's men unsurprisingly dominated the majority of the game but were unable to break down the superbly organised Iranians.
But just as Iran looked to have gained a valuable draw, Messi won the match with a moment of magic in injury time.
The Barcelona man picked up the ball on the edge of the area, quickly moved the ball toward his dangerous left foot before curling an unstoppable effort into the far corner.
"All players who played today have contributed to this victory but of course we have a genius who is called Messi. Fortunately he is Argentine," Sabella told reporters.
"Everybody would have liked to have Messi but it is us who have him.
"It was a very difficult match and Iran played a great World Cup match. But that last play from Lionel, no-one could have stopped it. Not even two goalkeepers could have stopped that Lionel shot."
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