LEIPZIG, June 24 - A brilliant goal from Argentina's Maxi Rodriguez gave his country a 2-1 extra-time win over Mexico in the World Cup second round on Saturday.

Argentina's Maximiliano Rodriguez (2nd L) scores his team's second goal against Mexico during their second round World Cup 2006 soccer match in Leipzig June 24, 2006. [Reuters]

Rodriguez struck eight minutes into extra time, controlling a cross-field pass with his chest and then hammering a superb, diagonal left-foot volley past Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez from 20 metres.

Argentina will play hosts Germany in the quarter-final in Berlin on Friday.

"It's a match that is much anticipated because they are two big teams in football history who have been world champions on different occasions," Argentina coach Jose Pekerman told reporters looking ahead to that game.

The Latin American rivals had been level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, following two early goals.

Rodriguez added: "It was a very hard-fought match, we both tried to play football. It was end to end and we couldn't find the clarity to settle the match. Then it came with a shot (his) from outside the area."

'BETTER TEAM'

The Mexican captain Rafael Marquez took the result philosophically.

"The team has worked very well all this time and played a good match today against a team that everyone thought would run over us," he told Mexican TV.

"On the contrary we were perhaps the better team. Maybe we didn't deserve this but football is like that."

Mexico took the game to Argentina from the kickoff and shocked the favourites by taking the lead with their first chance in the sixth minute.

Pavel Pardo's free kick on the right was flicked on with his head by defender Mario Mendez and captain Rafael Marquez came in unmarked on the left behind the defence to shoot into the roof of the net past keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.

Page:

1

2