• Argentina 4-1 South Korea, Group B

Messi and Higuain inspire awesome foursome

Lionel Messi was terrific once again © Getty Images

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Argentina v South Korea gallery

Gonzalo Higuain scored the first hat-trick at the World Cup since 2002 as Argentina all but assured themselves a place in the last 16 with an impressive victory over South Korea at Soccer City.

Diego Maradona's men were installed as favourites to win the competition following Spain's shock loss to Switzerland on Wednesday, and the forever-controversial coach did his best to whip the Argentinian crowd into a frenzy ahead of kick-off, holding up a newspaper from the morning after Argentina last won the World Cup in 1986, which declared: "World Champions".

Once the game kicked off, the spotlight switched to Barcelona and Real Madrid stars Messi and Higuain, who scored 61 league goals between them last season. The former took on the role of chief creator, while the latter fired his way past Diego Forlan to the top of the goalscoring charts.

Messi took the credit for the opener, delivering a teasing free kick that Park Chu-yong failed to react to as the ball bounced off his standing leg into the South Korea net. Then came Higuain's first contribution as he headed softly into the near corner for a 2-0 advantage.

If there is one danger for Argentina at this World Cup it is their defence, and Martin Demichelis delivered a timely reminder of that on the stroke of half time, dithering on the ball in front of his own goal to allow Lee Chung-yong to steal in and halve the deficit - completely against the run of play.

The goal woke South Korea up, and they should have levelled during a 20-minute period in the second half when Argentina were made to look very ordinary.

However, as soon as Messi grabbed a hold of the game, the match was over, with Higuain the major beneficiary. First the Barca man darted down the left, striking the post with his second bite at the cherry, allowing Higuain to poke home the rebound. Then he clipped a wonderful pass over the defence for Sergio Aguero to guide a cross onto the head of Higuain who gleefully wrapped up the hat-trick.

The first real chance of the match fell to Higuain on the right after good build-up play involving Carlos Tevez and Messi, but the shot was lashed over. It did not take much longer, though, for the first goal to arrive, a nicely flighted free-kick from Messi on the left caught out Park Chu-young as he deflected the ball into his own net.

Gonzalo Higuain gives Argentina a dangerous aerial threat © Getty Images

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Almost immediately after the restart, another direct run from Messi saw the ball fall into the path of Maxi Rodriguez, who pulled his 20-yard strike wide.

Walter Samuel, who hardly broke sweat in the opening quarter, was then forced off with what looked like a hamstring problem - the Inter Milan defender replaced by Nicolas Burdisso.

Tevez almost doubled the advantage shortly before the half-hour mark when his fizzing 20-yard free-kick continued to rise and ended up in the north stand at Soccer City. But that lead was extended when a short free-kick on the left came to Rodriguez, whose ball into the box was flicked on by Burdisso to Higuain, who put his free header beyond the helpless Jung Sung-ryong.

The Korean goalkeeper prevented his side from falling further behind in the 40th minute - first coming off his line to punch away a cross-shot from the right by Higuain. He then made a flying save to tip over Angel di Maria's shot from the edge of the box, but was beaten minutes before the break when Messi's enterprising skill ended with a curling shot beyond the right-hand post.

As the seconds wound down, Demichelis took his eye off a header from Park Chu-young, allowing Bolton midfielder Lee to nip in and score.

Yeom Ki-hun should then have drawn his side level after 55 minutes when he was put clean through on the right following a quick break, but found the side netting after opting to use his left foot instead of the right.

Argentina were losing control, so Maradona threw on Aguero for Tevez. The moved proved an instant hit as the Atletico Madrid forward played in Messi on the left - whose initial shot was blocked by Jung and the rebound shot hit the base of the left upright and fell to Higuain for a simple tap-in.

That was in the 76th minute and four minutes later the Real Madrid star completed his hat-trick after nodding in Aguero's cross at the back post.

Messi, desperate to open his account in South Africa, and Aguero missed late chances to add to Korea's woes as the Albiceleste completed a commanding win.

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