Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (aet): La Albiceleste qualify to RO16 to face Egypt after epic game

Argentina were taken all the way to ET for a record-extending 12th time at the FIFA World Cup (WC) before eventually beating Cape Verde 3-2 in the round of 32 in Florida.

Match Report

Buoyed by the occasion, Cape Verde - the lowest-ranked side to reach the knockout stages on their WC debut - started with no fear and Ryan Mendes’ shot deflected into Emiliano Martínez’s path. Argentina soon took control, though, with Lionel Messi scuffing a shot wide before striking a free-kick straight into Vozinha’s arms. Messi would not be denied for long, putting the world champions in front just before the half-hour mark as he expertly controlled Lisandro Martínez’s lobbed diagonal pass before poking into the roof of the net to put him ahead in the Golden Boot race with his seventh goal of the tournament. 

Lionel Scaloni’s men threatened to score again before HT through Enzo Fernández’s first-time curler from the edge of the box, which was pushed away by Vozinha, but Cape Verde survived with just a one-goal deficit heading into the second half. The break came at a good time for the Blue Sharks, who looked more lively after the restart with Deroy Duarte forcing Emi Martínez into his first meaningful action of the game, as his shot from outside the area was smartly stopped by the goalkeeper. Then, just before the hour mark, Cape Verde shocked the world again with the equaliser they were threatening. Mendes played through Duarte and this time he made no mistake from a tight angle, rifling into the bottom corner to score the Blue Sharks’ first-ever WC knockout goal.

Messi almost put Argentina back in front immediately when he was through on goal, but this time Vozinha brought out his early-tournament heroics to deny him from close range. The veteran goalkeeper then produced an even better save to claw Messi’s clever free-kick away from the top corner, as the contest remained level heading into the second hydration break. Upon the resumption, hearts were in mouths when Pico Lopes almost diverted Nahuel Molina’s dangerous cross into his own net, as he watched the ball flash just past the post. 

Argentina struggled to create good chances to secure the win late on, and as a result, Cape Verde remarkably forced ET. However, it took just a couple of minutes for their hearts to be broken, as a corner found its way to Lisandro Martínez at the back post, and after assisting Argentina’s first goal, he struck into the top corner to spare his team’s blushes. There was only a brief relief though, as incredibly, Cape Verde equalised again with a stunning strike from Sidny Lopes Cabral, arguably scoring the goal of the tournament by curling into the top corner from an acute angle. Messi did his best to dampen the mood with a strike of his own towards goal, but Vozinha managed to parry away as the Blue Sharks went into the second half of ET level.

Cape Verde ultimately didn’t get their fairytale ending though, as Argentina went in front for a third time, with their other centre-back Cristian Romero getting his head to a Messi corner that took a slight deflection off Diney Borges on its way into the net. The Blue Sharks simply would not give up, and Lopes Cabral showed that his goal was not a fluke as he struck a powerful free-kick towards goal, only for Emi Martínez to palm away. La Selección advance to the round of 16 where they’ll face Egypt, while Cape Verde exit with their first defeat of the tournament, but doing their nation proud.

Match Events

29' GOAL! Messi scores with a brilliant shot into the roof of the net after being released inside the box by a superb lofted pass from Lisandro Martinez!  Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde

59' GOAL! Ryan Mendes plays a simple square pass into the feet of Deroy Duarte in the box, who composes himself and lashes the ball into the bottom left corner!  Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde

92' GOAL! The resulting corner is whipped into the box and Lisandro Martinez buries the ball into the back of the net from a Mac Allister knock down! Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde

103' GOAL! Sidny Lopes Cabral collects a good pass and slams the ball from mid-range into the top right corner! Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde

 111' OWN GOAL! Diney Borges attempts to head the ball away from inside the box, but unluckily he turns a cross from the resulting corner inside his own net! Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde

Line-ups

Argentina XI: Messi, E. Martinez, De Paul, Lautaro, Molina, Cristian Romero, Mac Allister, Facundo Medina, Lisandro Martinez, Thiago Almada, Enzo

Subs: Otamendi, Tagliafico, Gerónimo Rulli, Paredes, Musso, Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Senesi, N. Gonzalez, Alvarez, Flaco López, Giuliano Simeone, Valentín Barco, Nico Paz

Cape Verde XI: Ryan Mendes, Roberto Lopes, Vozinha, Steven Moreira, Da Costa, Diney Borges, Laros Duarte, Deroy Duarte, Jovane Cabral, Kevin Pina, Sidny Lopes Cabral

Subs: Stopira, Garry Rodrigues, Márcio Rosa, Jamiro Monteiro, Yannick Semedo, CJ dos Santos, Willy Semedo, Logan Costa, João Paulo, Telmo Arcanjo, Kelvin Pires, Hélio Varela, Gilson Benchimol, Dailon Livramento, Wagner Pina