Argentina beats Mexico 3-1 at World Cup

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Carlos Tevez scored twice – once on a disputed goal – and Gonzalo Higuain added another as Argentina beat Mexico 3-1 on Sunday to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.

Tevez was offside when he headed in a pass from Lionel Messi in the eighth minute. The referee awarded the goal after consulting with his linesman, the pair surrounded by angrily gesturing Mexican and Argentine players.

The call in Sunday night’s game came just hours after the referee at Germany’s 4-1 win over England failed to recognize that a shot by England’s Frank Lampard, which would have tied the score at 2-2 late in the first half, clearly made it across the goal line after striking the crossbar.

Argentina now plays Germany in the final eight, a repeat of the 2006 quarterfinals, which the Germans won. The Germans also beat Argentina in the 1990 World Cup final.

In the 33rd minute, Higuain rounded the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 after Ricardo Osorio, under no pressure, played the ball straight into his path. In the 52nd, Tevez rifled in an unstoppable shot from 25 yards.

Mexico’s Javier Hernandez scored in the 71st.

Tevez proved difficult for Mexico’s defenders to handle, and Higuain – the leading scorer at the World Cup with four goals – should have added another but headed a cross wide from close range just before halftime.

Messi, one of the best playmakers in the tournament, again failed to score and struggled in midfield for much of the game. Still he came close: His shot in the 91st minute was tipped over the bar.

The Mexicans enjoyed the better chances as the game started, with Carlos Salcido’s fierce shot shaking the crossbar in the 8th minute.

After Tevez’s opening goal, though, the Argentines slowly began to control the game.

Germany beats England 4-1 in World Cup

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) — Thomas Mueller scored twice in the second half Sunday and England had a goal not awarded by the referee in a 4-1 victory that put Germany into the World Cup quarterfinals.

The 20-year-old forward finished two quick German counterattacks within 3 minutes to sink England’s hopes of beating Germany at the World Cup for the first time since the 1966 final.

England was not helped by referee Jorge Larrionda waving play on even though Frank Lampard’s first-half shot landed well past the goal line after hitting the crossbar. Germany led 2-1 at the time.

Germany went up on goals by Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski before Matthew Upson pulled a goal back in the 37th minute.

On Lampard’s non-goal, after the ball landed inside the goal, it ball spun back into the arms of Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. England coach Fabio Capello initially celebrated what he thought was an equalizer by clenching his fists and shaking his arms. But his face changed when he realized the goal had not been given.

As the players walked off the field at halftime, Wayne Rooney walked over to the linesman who didn’t flag for the goal and gestured with his hands how far he thought the ball had crossed the line.

In 1966, England and Germany were 2-2 in extra time in the World Cup final when Geoff Hurst’s shot struck the underside of the crossbar, bounced down and spun back into play. That time, the referee consulted his linesman, who awarded the goal.

Hurst went on to score a third goal in England’s 4-2 victory at Wembley.

Germany plays the winner of Argentina-Mexico, which is later Sunday.

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