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RIO DE JANEIRO. — Argentina captain Lionel Messi and record-equalling Miroslav Klose of Germany rode to the rescue of their teams with trademark goals on another day of rich entertainment at the World Cup soccer finals on Saturday. Messi snatched a 1-0 win for Argentina against plucky Iran with a typical piece of brilliance that put them in the last 16, while Klose equalled the record for World Cup goals of 15 with a classic poacher’s effort to salvage a 2-2 draw against Ghana.

Messi struck in stoppage-time in Belo Horizonte with a superb curling strike, although a moment of genius from the four-times world player of the year added sheen to a lacklustre display from one of the tournament favourites.

The goal, a cruel blow for the Iranians who several times came close to taking a shock lead, was enough to put Argentina through. — Soccernet