Defending World Cup champions Argentina have booked their spot in the tournament’s Round of 16 after a breathless, nerve-wracking 120-minute battle against a valiant Cape Verde side, sealing a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory courtesy of a late unfortunate own goal.
The two sides traded blows for the full duration of the match, with Cape Verde pushing the reigning champions to their absolute limit in a bid to pull off one of the biggest upsets in modern World Cup history. Their giant-killing dream ultimately fell just short, leaving the underdog side visibly crushed by heartbreak at the final whistle.
As many predicted, Argentina started the match on the front foot, patiently probing for an early opening against their organized opponents. Cape Verde’s defense came into the match fully prepared for the South Americans’ early attacking pressure, holding a tight, compact shape for the opening stages of the first half.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha produced a series of confident early stops to keep Argentina at bay, first diffusing a dangerous attack with Lautaro Martinez hounding him closely. As Argentina gradually cranked up the pressure, it looked only a matter of time before the defending champions would break the deadlock, but Cape Verde’s backline held firm, keeping Argentina outside their penalty area for long stretches of the opening half.
Argentina’s first clear-cut chance arrived in the 15th minute, when Lionel Messi dragged a poor effort off target after a well-worked attacking move. Two minutes later, Canadian referee Drew Fischer awarded Messi a free kick after a challenge from Jovane Cabral, which replays suggested Cabral had won cleanly on the ball. Messi’s resulting free kick was a routine save for Vozinha, who was quickly off his line a minute later to smother the ball as Messi looked to tap home a loose pass. Lautaro Martinez tested Vozinha again soon after, but the keeper remained composed to turn the effort away.
Right after the hydration break, Messi produced a moment of individual brilliance to open the scoring. He controlled a long, searching pass from Lisandro Martinez with masterful touch, beating Vozinha to put Argentina 1-0 up. After taking the lead, Argentina pushed for a second to extend their advantage, but Cape Verde held firm to prevent any further first-half goals, even when Enzo Fernandez tested Vozinha in stoppage time of the opening 45. The half ended with Argentina holding a narrow 1-0 lead.
Cape Verde emerged from the halftime break a far more dangerous side, pushing Argentina back into their own half and growing into the game. In the 54th minute, they registered their first shot on target, which Argentine keeper Emiliano Martinez dealt with comfortably. Six minutes later, Duarte found the back of the net to draw the underdogs level.
In the 63rd minute, Messi found himself one-on-one with Vozinha, but the Cape Verde keeper came out on top against the tournament’s top goalscorer to deny him. Eight minutes later, Messi nearly put Argentina back in front from a quick free kick, taken while Vozinha was still organizing his defensive wall. The keeper managed a last-ditch intervention to tip the effort around the post and keep the scores level.
In late stoppage time, Messi won a controversial free kick after going down under minimal contact inside the Cape Verde penalty area, but the set piece failed to produce a winning goal for Argentina. Just before the final whistle, substitute Willy Semedo was brought down outside the Argentine box, but referee Fischer waved away appeals for a free kick, and the match ended level to force extra time.
Early in extra time, Lisandro Martinez put the defending champions back in front with a stunning finish into the top corner of the net, making the score 2-1. Refusing to let their heads drop, Cape Verde continued to push for an equalizer, and in the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a sensational goal to draw the underdogs level once again at 2-2.
In the second half of extra time, Cristian Romero, assisted by Messi, put Argentina ahead for the third time, extending the score to 3-2. Lopes Cabral nearly pulled off another miracle with a brilliant free kick effort late on, but Emiliano Martinez was equal to it, tipping the effort around the post to keep Argentina’s lead intact. Cape Verde could not create another clear chance to equalize, confirming Argentina’s place in the Round of 16 and keeping their title defense campaign on track.