Argentina roll on with South Korea in tow

Group B round-up: Defender Martin Demichelis and substitute Martin Palermo succeeded where Argentina’s multi-talented strike…

Group B round-up:Defender Martin Demichelis and substitute Martin Palermo succeeded where Argentina's multi-talented strike force had failed as they scored the goals to break Greece's resilience and end their World Cup hopes at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Diego Maradona’s side completed their clean sweep in Group B and will be joined in the last 16 by South Korea, who drew 2-2 with Nigeria in Durban.

Bayern Munich centre-back Demichelis fired home from close range in the 77th minute after his header from Lionel Messi’s corner bounced back off team-mate Diego Milito.

Boca Juniors striker Palermo tapped in the rebound from Messi’s shot to complete the victory a minute from time.

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It sent Argentina into the knockout phase to face Mexico full of confidence on the back of three successive wins as Greece’s best defensive efforts ultimately proved to be in vain.

There was far more excitement in the game in Durban, with Nigeria opening the scoring in the 12th minute when Kalu Uche nipped in front of Cha Du-ri to latch onto a cross from Chidi Odiah to fire home.

But the Super Eagles again threw away an early lead as they did against Greece.

South Korea equalised in the 38th minute when Ki Sung-yong curled a free-kick from just outside the penalty area across goal and Lee Jung-soo stole in behind Rabiu Afolabi to fire low past the goal keeper at the back post.

Four minutes into the second half, Park Chu-young gave South Korea the lead, firing another free-kick on the edge of the area around the Nigerian wall and into the far corner past a flailing and misplaced Vincent Enyeama.

In the 69th minute Yakubu Aiyegbeni atoned for wasting two golden chances by calmly slotting home a penalty to level the scores.

Seven minutes earlier he had somehow skewed the ball wide while alone in front of an open goal.

The Koreans should have taken the lead after just two minutes. Lee Chung-yung intercepted a poor clearance from Rabiu Afolabi, played the ball out wide and was then sent clean through on goal, but scuffed his shot wide.

The West Africans certainly had chances to win their first World Cup game in seven matches. Just before missing from four years out, Yakuba was clean through on goal but cut the ball back and became entangled with a defender.