Argentina beat Mexico by 3-1, enter quarter-finals

JOHANNESBURG - Two-time champions Argentina profited from yet another officiating mistake at the 2010 World Cup to beat Mexico 3-1 Sunday and set up a quarter-final date with Germany.

Carlos Tevez scored twice, though his opening goal in the 26th minute should have been disallowed, but Italian linesman Stefano Ayroldi failed to rule that the Manchester City striker was clearly offside.

Gonzalo Higuain hit the shocked Mexicans for the 2-0 lead and his fourth of the tournament in the 33rd minute after a defensive miscue. And then Tevez finished any hopes for Mexico with a hammer blast in the 52nd minute.

Javier Hernandez scored a consolation goal in the 71st minute for the Mexicans in front of 84,377 fans at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium.

Next up for the 1978 and 1986 champions Argentina is a sixth World Cup showdown with Germany Saturday. The game will also be a rematch of Germany’s quarter-final penalty shootout win in 2006.

The other two Germany-Argentina highlights were Argentina beating Germany in the 1986 final and Germany returning the favour over Argentina in the 1990 final.

Mexico meanwhile head home from a World Cup yet again after losing at the Round of 16 stage - as had been the case in the previous four tournaments.

The one negative was that Argentina star Lionel Messi, who turned 23 Thursday, once again failed to make the scorer’s list. The midfield magician has not scored for Argentina since November, when he converted a penalty against Spain in a 2-1 defeat.

Not surprisingly, Argentina coach Diego Maradona brought Higuain back into attack with Tevez, while Nicolas Burdisso continued to deputise for injured Walter Samuel. Also back were Angel Di Maria, captain Javier Mascherano and Gabriel Heinze, who were all rested against Greece.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre started with new Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, who was on the bench in the 1-0 defeat by Uruguay.

Mexico started the game in fine form with a number of strong chances.

Carlos Salcido hammered a long ball off the crossbar in the eighth minute and Andres Guardado’s left foot shot went just centimetres wide of the far left post a minute later.

And then Hernandez went wide right in the 14th minute as the Mexican defence stood well early on.

But it was Argentina who grabbed the lead in the 26th minute on an officiating mistake.

Messi played through to Tevez, but Mexico keeper Oscar Perez blocked the ball back to Messi. The Barcelona playmaker then flicked the ball back onto Tevez, who was offside before heading home - though linesman Ayroldi missed the call.

Before Mexico could find their way back into the game, Argentina doubled the lead in the 33rd minute - this time on a mistake by the Mexican backline: Mexican defender Ricardo Osorio played the ball directly into the path of Higuain and the Real Madrid striker held off Osorio, circled Perez and slotted home to take the lead in the

2010 World Cup scorer’s list.

Tempers rose at the end of the first half as the teams had to be separated on their way into the dressing rooms.

Then Tevez made sure that it was not just mistakes that allowed Argentina to advance to the final eight with a fantastic goal to make it 3-0 at the 52-minute mark: Out of nothing, Tevez unleashed a brilliant hammer strike from 25 yards into the upper right corner.

Mexico remained determined to at least get on the scoreboard with substitute Pablo Barrera hitting the side netting at the hour mark.

And Argentine defender Martin Demichelis cleared an attempt by Barrera at the goal line with 20 minutes left.

Mexico pulled back a goal with 19 minutes left on a fine individual effort by Hernandez, who spun on his marker and struck into the roof of the net.

But that would be all Argentina would allow - and Perez made a superb save on Messi two minutes into stoppage time.