Carlos Tevez benefited from yet another refereeing blunder as Diego Maradona's World Cup charge gathered pace.

The last thing FIFA needed was more controversy about video replays, especially after Frank Lampard's over the line ‘goal’. But Argentina were set on their way to a comprehensive win by a Tevez goal that was well offside.

And the error was compounded when the SoccerCity big screens showed the mistake to players and officials provoking angry Mexican protests as the Argentines celebrated.

However, Argentina were still worthy winners, Tevez notching a spectacular second just after half-time after Gonzalo Higuain had staked another claim to be Golden Boot.

Tevez' first changed the course of the game and knocked the stuffing out of Mexico.

Mexico joined England at the wrong end of yet another refereeing embarrassment.

The Manchester City star finished off a wonderful move that had Lionel Messi surging forward, sucking in defenders and releasing Tevez in on the keeper.

Pscar Perez smothered the first effort at Tevez' feet, but Messi lobbed the rebound to the striker, who had continued to the edge of the six-yard box and was well offside.

Tevez nodded into the untended net and Argentina embarked on a lengthy celebration as Italian ref Roberto Rosetti awarded the goal and lined up the restart.

Enough time in fact for the giant stadium screens to show a replay, which proved he was offside.

Mexican players then mobbed the linesman and referee who had clearly also seen their mistake. But the stubborn officials did not go back on their earlier decision to the fury of boss Javier Aguirre.

Little wonder then that tempers flared at half-time with a mass shoving match between the two benches – Maradona, Gabriel Heinz and keeper Sergio Romero in the thick of it.

There was no doubt about Argentina’s second goal, which was gifted by a horrendous defensive error from Ricardo Osorio.

He dithered on the ball and tried to offload it only for Real Madrid ace Higuain to pounce.

He expertly held off Osorio’s desperate attempt to challenge and rounded Perez for his fourth of the ­tournament. Higuain is now top scorer

Maradona’s coaching philosophy revolves around keeping his players happy and enjoying himself, and he set the tone last night by belting out a song on his way off the team bus and all the way to the dressing room.

He’ll have loved the ticker-tape reception that Argentina fans created before kick-off, reminiscent of the scenes in the 1978 final they won.

And the goals were ­celebrated on the bench as if he’d scored them himself.

Winning all three group games reshaped opinions about Maradona’s regime but this was his biggest test yet.

Mexico had impressed in qualification and looked capable of a shock, as they looked to avenge their 2006 exit to Argentina in Leipzig and Maxi Rodrigue’s ­memorable volley.

But they were outclassed last night despite the poor offside decision. Manchester United’s new recruit Javier Hernandez gave a taste of his talent with a stunning turn and shot that beat Sergio Romero for a consolation goal.

Argentina, who have racked up 10 goals in four games, now face Germany in the quarter-finals.

Unlocking the talent of Messi, who has had 20 shots so far, more than anyone in the World Cup, but no goals, was key to the Argentine success.