Argentina leads 3-1 over Mexico after 75 minutes of second-round match at World Cup

Argentina leads 3-1 over Mexico after 75 minutes

JOHANNESBURG — Argentina is on the verge of the World Cup quarterfinals, leading Mexico 3-1 after 75 minutes of the teams’ second-round match.

Carlos Tevez’s second goal of the game had given Argentina a 3-0 lead in the 52nd, before Javier Hernandez pulled one back for Mexico in the 71st.

Tevez scored his first in the 26th, heading into an empty net after Lionel Messi had chipped the ball toward goal. Gonzalo Higuain then capitalized on a blunder by Mexico defender Ricardo Osorio to double the lead in the 33rd with his fourth goal of the tournament.

Mexican players were furious over the first goal, as replays showed Tevez to be offside. Their protests spilled over into a scuffle behind their bench as the teams walked off at halftime.