Argentina opened its 2014 World Cup campaign with a win that went from mundane to magical thanks to the man in the No. 10 shirt. Lionel Messi scored one goal and was involved in another as the two-time World Cup champions defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina, 2-1 , in their opening match in Group F.
In the third minute, Argentina took an early 1-0 lead when a Messi free kick from the left wing led to an own goal by Bosnia-Herzegovina. After Argentina's Marcos Rojo got his head to Messi's cross, the ball deflected into the net off Dragons defender Sead Kolasinac.
Despite the nightmare start, Bosnia-Herzegovina managed to hold the star-studded Argentina side in check for the remainder of the first half. The second half would prove another story.
With two substitutions at halftime seemingly aimed at bolstering the attack, Argentina and Messi produced a second-half effort with more of the offensive flair expected. In the 65th minute, Messi doubled the Argentina advantage with just his second career World Cup goal. Nearly eight years since Messi scored as a substitute against Serbia and Montenegro in the 2006 World Cup, he struck again.
Ensuring that the result remained in doubt until the final whistle, Bosnia-Herzegovina pulled back a goal in the 84th minute when Vedad Ibisevic fired past Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero after running onto a through ball from Senad Lulic. Ibisevic's left-footed shot, from a tight angle, deflected off of Romero and trickled into the net.
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