Tévez hits two in Soccer City

Carlos Tévez scored twice last night as Argentina qualified for the quarter-final of the World Cup, beating Mexico 3-1.

The first would have single-handedly inspired a debate on video technology had Frank Lampard's 'goal' in Bloemfontein not got there a few hours beforehand. Mexico goalkeeper Óscar Pérez charged off his line to punch but the ball only reached Lionel Messi. Messi chipped the ball back into the box, towards Tévez who was yards goal-side of Pérez and both Mexican centre backs. He darted back into an onside position to head home, and the flag stayed down. The goal was replayed on the big screen, the Mexican players protested to the officials but they were powerless to overturn their decision.

Gonzalo Higuaín scored another before Tévez scored an uncontroversial second: rifling the ball into the top corner from twenty-five yards. Tévez can hit the ball with astonishing purity and ferocity when the mood takes him, and this was one of his best. He came off soon after for Juan Sebastián Verón. Tévez and teammates will face Germany on Saturday afternoon in the quarter-final.