Nigeria blew World Cup Group D wide open, with a 2-0 win over Iceland in Volgograd.
Argentina were thrashed 3-0 by Croatia last night, leaving the Albiceleste staring down the barrel of elimination.
A win for Iceland would have taken things out of their hands, needing a Croatian win and a goal difference swing on the final day.
It was the Nordic nation who started on the front foot, with Francis Uzoho twice saving from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Nigeria blew World Cup Group D wide open, with a 2-0 win over Iceland in Volgograd.
Argentina were thrashed 3-0 by Croatia last night, leaving the Albiceleste staring down the barrel of elimination.
A win for Iceland would have taken things out of their hands, needing a Croatian win and a goal difference swing on the final day.
It was the Nordic nation who started on the front foot, with Francis Uzoho twice saving from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
With the Icelandic thunderclap booming around the stadium, Aaron Gunnarsson’s long throws repeatedly sparked panic in the Nigeria box.
The Africans grew into the game as it went on though, and began to dominate possession.
Even then, Alfred Finnbogason should have opened the scoring on the brink of half-time, but he couldn’t get good enough contact on Sigurdsson’s cross.
Nigeria made an attacking change at half-time, with Tyronne Ebuehi coming on for the less adventurous Brian Idowu.
They got their reward on 53 minutes with a classic counter-attack goal.
From yet another Icelandic long throw, Victor Moses surged down the right and sent a cross in to the near post.
Ahmed Musa had raced forward with him, and the striker controlled the ball with one touch before smashing it past Hannes Halldorsson.
Iceland struggled to respond, and Musa made it 2-0 with 15 minutes remaining.
The forward showed fantastic control to kill a long ball forward, and skinned Kari Arnason as he surged into the box.
Musa then took it around Halldorsson, and while there were two defenders on the line he kept his cool to find the back of the net.
Iceland were given a lifeline when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was brought down for a penalty, but Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson smashed the spot kick over the bar.
The result means Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland can all still qualify for the Last 16, with only Croatia guaranteed to progress.
Nigeria 2-0 Iceland
Musa 53 76 (I)
Nigeria: Uzoho; Omeruo, Troost-Ekong, Balogun; Moses, Etebo (Iwobi, 90), Mikel, Ndidi, Idowu (Ebuehi, 46); Musa, Iheanacho (Ighalo, 85)
Iceland: Halldorsson; Saevarsson, Arnason, R. Sigurdsson (Ingason, 65), Magnusson; Gislason, Gunnarsson (Skulason, 87), G. Sigurdsson, Bjarnason; Bodvarsson (Sigurdarson, 71), Finnbogason
Penalty missed: Sigurdsson