Controversy as Argentina lead Mexico 2-0

Argentina were on course to meet Germany in the quarter-finals at the World Cup after leading Mexico 2-0 at half-time in their Round of 16 match on Sunday.

Goals by Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain, his fourth of the tournament, keep Diego Maradona’s Argentina on target to meet the Germans in Cape Town on Saturday.

But Tevez’s strike was controversial.

Argentina’s world footballer of the year Lionel Messi threaded a pass to Tevez.

The Manchester City star’s shot was saved by Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez, but Messi followed up and chipped Perez for Tevez to head home.

The Mexican defence complained bitterly that Tevez was offside, but Italian referee Roberto Rosetti allowed the 26th-minute goal to stand despite the furore caused by a replay of the incident on the stadium’s giant TV screens.

Mexico captain Rafael Marquez picked up a yellow card almost from the restart for fouling Messi.

Things went from bad to worse for the Mexicans on 33 minutes when defender Ricardo Osorio’s pass went straight to Higuain who slotted past Perez to make it 2-0 at the break.

Rosetti then had to step in to break up a pitch-side melee between the two sides as they walked off for half-time with tempers boiling over because of the first goal.

Mexico made a bright start as midfielder Andres Guardado hit the post and defender Carlos Salcido rattled the crossbar from 30 metres out in the first 15 minutes.