Defending champions Argentina were pushed to their limits before edging past a resilient Cape Verde side 3-2 after extra time in a thrilling FIFA World Cup Round of 32 encounter, securing their place in the last 16 of the tournament.
Led by captain Lionel Messi, the South American giants overcame a determined performance from the tournament debutants, who twice fought back to level the score and came within minutes of forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
Messi opened the scoring in the first half with a superb finish, continuing his remarkable World Cup campaign and extending his record tally in the competition. However, Cape Verde refused to be overawed by the reigning world champions and responded after the break through Deroy Duarte, whose equaliser stunned the Argentine supporters and ensured the contest remained finely balanced at the end of regulation time.
With the match locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, extra time produced even more drama. Defender Lisandro MartÃnez restored Argentina’s lead early in the additional period, only for Cape Verde to respond once again as Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a stunning strike to make it 2-2, setting up a tense finale.
Argentina eventually found the decisive breakthrough in the 111th minute when a dangerous delivery from Messi resulted in an own goal by Cape Verde defender Diney Borges under pressure from Cristian Romero. The goal proved enough to send Lionel Scaloni’s side through after one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament.
Despite the defeat, Cape Verde earned widespread praise for their fearless display against one of world football’s traditional powerhouses. The Blue Sharks matched Argentina for long periods, defended resolutely, and consistently threatened on the counterattack, earning admiration from fans and football analysts alike for their discipline, determination, and attacking intent.
Messi once again proved decisive for Argentina, not only opening the scoring but also playing a crucial role in the winning goal. His performance helped preserve Argentina’s hopes of retaining the World Cup title while further cementing his status as one of the competition’s greatest players.
The victory sends Argentina into the Round of 16, where they will face Egypt in another highly anticipated knockout fixture as they continue their quest for back-to-back World Cup titles.
For Cape Verde, the defeat marked the end of a memorable World Cup journey. Competing in their first-ever FIFA World Cup, the island nation exceeded expectations by reaching the knockout stage and pushing the defending champions to the brink in a performance that is likely to be remembered as one of the tournament’s standout moments.
