World Cup - Argentina 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina 1: Messi seals Argentina’s win

A MOMENT of magic from Lionel Messi plus a moment of misfortune for Sead Kolasinac helped lack-lustre Argentina to a winning start against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

By The Newsroom

Published 16th Jun 2014, 01:56 BST

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's second goal.

A debut goal for Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup finals five minutes from time from substitute Vesad Ibisevic could do no more than halve the margin of their defeat.

Argentina were ahead as early as the third minute when Sead Kolasinac put through his own goal.

Messi curled in a free-kick from the left and Marcos Rojo’s header struck the helpless Kolasinac and found the net.

It meant there have already been more own goals in this World Cup – three – than there were in the whole of the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Argentina and Messi were both proving a disappointment on the night – until the 65th minute.

Gonzalo Higuain flicked the ball into Messi’s path and the Barcelona star beat two players before striking a shot in off the foot of a post.

It was Messi’s first World Cup goal since the 2006 tournament in Germany.