JOHANNESBURG — Gabriel Heinze scored on a diving header and Argentina hung on for a 1-0 victory over Nigeria on Saturday despite missing a fistful of scoring chances in the teams’ World Cup opener.
Heinze’s goal came in the sixth minute, when he took advantage of weak defense to power in a shot from 12 yards off Juan Sebastian Veron’s corner kick.
The Nigerians struggled for much of the match to contain Argentina forward Lionel Messi, who tormented them with his masterful moves.
Striker Gonzalo Higuain failed to convert three good chances, including what seemed a certain goal in the fourth minute. Messi also came agonizingly close several times.
South Korea 2, Greece 0
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — Lee Jung-soo and Park Ji-sung each scored for South Korea, which controlled the tempo from its first scoring chance on and is hoping to repeat its 2002 run to the semifinals.
The Associated Press
