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IBARAKI, Japan (Ticker) -- They don't call him "BatiGol" for nothing. Selecting Gabriel Batistuta proved to be the right decision for coach Marcelo Bielsa as the striker scored the lone goal in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the opening Group F match. "Gabriel Batistuta has waited a long time for this World Cup, he did well and all the other forwards did well," Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron said. Argentina's all-time goal-scoring leader, Batistuta's 63rd-minute header raised his total to 56 goals in 76 appearances. However, the 33-year-old forward was replaced with nine minutes left and was treated on the bench for an apparent right calf injury. After not looking sharp early, Batistuta elevated above a group of players at the far post to get on the end of Veron's corner kick, beating goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu to the short side. "It was a big loss, but we have two more games," Shorunmu said. "We lost concentration." Bielsa was forced to choose between Batistuta and another world-class marksman, Hernan Crespo, to start at center forward and his decision made him look like a genius. Argentina had the better of the scoring chances throughout the match with Ariel Ortega, Juan Pablo Sorin and Batistuta having several opportunities. Ortega had a hard shot from outside the box deflected for a corner kick in the 30th minute, Sorin was denied twice from close range by Shorunmu after the break and Batistuta missed out on a pair of free kicks. Argentina, one of the top favorites to win the tournament and add a third trophy to the ones captured in 1978 and 1986, also defeated Nigeria in 1994, when the sides also were drawn in the same World Cup group in the United States. Nigeria, with the youngest squad in the tournament, had trouble settling into the match early. Austin "Jay Jay" Okocha provided the team's best scoring chance after 32 minutes, when he tested goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero from 23 yards. Cavallero was forced to tip the ball over the crossbar. Forward Nwankwo Kanu fell awkardly and twisted his knee in the 11th minute and the Arsenal striker was replaced by Pius Ikedia. |
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