There was some scintillating attacking football from La Albiceleste as they became the first team at South Africa 2010 to reach six points. Nudging Higuain for individual honours as Korea Republic - impressive winners over Greece in their opening Group B fixture - were torn apart was the mercurial Lionel Messi, who had a hand in all four goals. 

Argentina were quickly into their smooth-passing style, switching the ball quickly to their creative talents, with Carlos Tevez eager to nag away at the Korean defenders. Angel Di Maria also demonstrated the potential to make it a difficult afternoon for Korea Republic right-back Oh Beom-Seok, who had come in for Cha Du-Ri. It was following a foul on the Benfica winger that Argentina went ahead. Messi's free-kick was perfectly judged, looping towards the penalty spot where it came off the shin of Park Chu-Young, leaving Jung Sung-Ryong powerless to keep it out. 

A stunning right-footer from distance from Ki Sung Yueng indicated that the Asian club were not going to take that blow lying down but chances were virtually non-existent as the South Americans continued in comfortable control, probing away and posing all manner of problems. Tevez zipped a free-kick just too high and on 32 minutes Argentina had their second goal. A free-kick was played short this time with Messi inviting Maxi Rodriguez to deliver the ball into the danger zone where it was flicked back towards the far post where Higuain was waiting to steer in a header. 

It was so comfortable for Maradona's team with Sung-Ryong denying Di Maria, and Messi only fractionally wide after a wonderful jinking run that bemused a clutch of defenders. But then complacency a lapse in concentration allowed the South Koreans back into the match. That certainly seemed to be the case with Martin Demichelis who was guilty of dwelling on the ball as the first half entered into added-on time and Lee Chung Young took ruthless advantage. 

After the break Sung-Ryong did well to keep out Higuain's effort but Diego Maradona's team, now without Walter Samuel, who was forced off with an injury, were vulnerable to Korea Republic's pace on the counter. That was never better demonstrated than in the 58th minute, when Park Ji-Sung slid a perfect pass into the stride of Yeom Ki-Hun, who could only hit the side-netting. 

The last words went to Argentina however and Higuain. After a one-two, Messi tore into the area and saw his first shot repelled by the goalkeeper. His follow-up stuck the inside of the post and there was Higuain to apply the final touch. 

Messi and Higuain weren't finished yet. With ten minutes remaining Messi's beautifully executed scooped pass put Sergio Aguero clear down the left and his cushioned cross was met with a clinical header from Higuain to wrap up his hat-trick. 
 
 
 
 
 

• A조 (남아공,멕시코,우루과이,프랑스)

• B조 (아르헨티나,나이지리아,대한민국,그리스)

• C조 (잉글랜드,미국,알제리,슬로베니아)

• D조 (독일,호주,세르비아,가나)

• E조 (네덜란드,덴마크,일본,카메룬)

• F조 (이탈리아,파라과이,뉴질랜드,슬로바키아)

• G조 (브라질,북한,코트디부아르,포르투칼)

• H조 (스페인,스위스,온두라스,칠레)

The result left Greece third in Group B, level on points with second-placed Korea Republic. Nigeria remained pointless and will now have to beat the South Koreans in their final first-phase outing to have any chance of advancing. 

Uche's goal was the first in the tournament directly from a free-kick, but the 35-yard effort was more of a pass from the left flank. Indeed, Greece goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas was distracted by the run of Peter Odemwingie streaking through the box, and let the ball go past him untouched. 

In the 33rd minute, Kaita's sending off came for a kick out at Vasileios Torosidis on the sideline, and sensing the opportunity, Greece coach Otto Rehhagel brought on Georgios Samaras to increase their attacking options. The Europeans duly began to dominate the proceedings. In the 35th minute, they split open the Nigeria defence, but goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who impressed in their 1-0 loss to Argentina, denied an unmarked Salpingidis from ten yards. 

Six minutes later, Enyeama was beaten, but midfielder Lukman Haruna saved Samaras's flicked, close-range shot from crossing the line. However, Haruna was not so fortunate in the 44th minute as Konstantinos Katsouranis laid the ball off to Salpingidis, whose blast from 20 yards deflected off the young Monaco midfielder and into the back of the net. 

The second half began where the first left off, and Georgios Karagounis found himself with a free header near the penalty spot, but the captain could not keep his attempt down. The two goalkeepers took turns playing hero then, with Tzorvas tipping over Uche's delicate cross from the left side of the box when it seemed like it might sneak under his bar. Enyeama spared Joseph's Yobo's blushes after a poor clearance, with a diving save from Theofanis Gekas's header in the 59th minute. From that chance, the west Africans broke back the other way immediately, and Yakuba Ayegbeni saw his shot denied spectacularly by the outstretched left hand of the Greece keeper. Half-time substitute Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi missed the rebound with the goal at his mercy. 

Enyeama again showed all of his ability in denying Samaras's header from a short corner after a stretched dive to his left, but the Hapoel Tel-Aviv man would have to take the blame for the Greek winner after he spilled Alexandros Tziolis's long-range shot into the path of Torosidis, who finished calmly in the the 71st minute. 

The game, however, remained wide open, and Enyeama, who has arguably been the goalkeeper of the tournament thus far and was named Budweiser Man of the Match today, made another top-drawer save from Karagounis six minutes after his mistake. 

Nigeria, who have now gone seven FIFA World Cup matches without victory, will hope to beat Korea Republic on Tuesday in Durban, and hope Argentina beat Greece in Group B's other remaining game.