Messi’s 20th World Cup goal helps Argentina survive Cape Verde scare and reach last 16.
Argentina were given a major scare before ending Cape Verde’s fairytale run, as Lionel Messi scored his 20th World Cup goal in a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory to book a place in the last 16.
Messi’s sublime touch and finish—his seventh goal of the tournament in four matches—put the defending champions in control, but the Blue Sharks refused to back down and continued to fight doggedly throughout.
Deroy Duarte’s strike on the hour mark forced Argentina to expend more energy than they would have wanted in the draining Miami heat.
Lisandro Martínez briefly restored Argentina’s lead early in extra time before Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a stunning strike that rocketed into the top corner.
Argentina eventually regained control from a set piece, as Cristian Romero rose highest to meet Lionel Messi’s corner, with the ball deflecting off Diney Borges and ending up in an own goal.
La Albiceleste will face Egypt on Tuesday in Atlanta, though there were concerns for Lionel Scaloni on his 100th match in charge despite what appeared to be a favourable draw.
Scaloni said it “would have been madness” to lose to the underdogs.
“A very tough match; you always have to take the positives—this team (Argentina) never gives up,” he said.
“We have to congratulate the opponent. When people say there are no easy opponents, they proved today that they are a great team,” he added.
“We finished very tired… they gave it their all.”
Cape Verde had already signalled their potential by holding European champions Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws in Group H to reach the knockout stages in their first World Cup appearance.
The Blue Sharks coach Bubista had described the clash with the world champions as “the game of our lives”, and his side delivered a spirited performance that pushed Argentina all the way.
On his return to the city where he plays club football for Inter Miami, Messi’s every touch was met with adulation from a crowd of nearly 65,000, the vast majority in Argentina colours.
Moments of magic
The 39-year-old produced a moment of brilliance, cushioning Lisandro Martínez’s pass with a feather-light touch before lifting a composed finish past Vozinha to open the scoring.
In doing so, Messi extended his record of scoring in eight consecutive World Cup matches and restored a two-goal lead over France’s Kylian Mbappé in the race to become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Emiliano Martínez had been largely untroubled in the first half, but the Aston Villa goalkeeper was called into action early in the second period, producing a sharp save to deny Deroy Duarte as Cape Verde began to show more attacking intent.
However, Martínez was beaten moments later when Duarte was picked out by Ryan Mendes and fired a low drive into the far corner to level the match.
Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha became an internet sensation after his man-of-the-match display against Spain last month.
His nearly 18 million Instagram followers would have enjoyed another highlight as he won a one-on-one duel with Messi, who looked certain to restore Argentina’s lead.
Irish-born Pico Lopes then emerged as another Cape Verde hero, producing a crucial intervention to deny Enzo Fernández a tap-in after yet more Messi-inspired creativity carved open the defence.
Lisandro Martínez’s rising effort from a corner, which fell to the Manchester United defender two minutes into extra time, appeared to swing momentum firmly back in Argentina’s favour.
But Cape Verde refused to bow once more, levelling with one of the goals of the tournament as Lopes Cabral smashed a stunning effort into the top corner.
The full-back then ran into the stands to celebrate with his partner.
Around the stadium, the boisterous atmosphere that had filled most of the evening gave way to growing nervous tension as penalties loomed.
Lionel Scaloni could only wipe his brow in relief when Messi’s corner was ultimately turned into his own net by the unfortunate Borges.
Yet an exhausted Argentina still had to survive a Cape Verde onslaught in the final seconds.
Emiliano Martínez then came out on top in his duel with Lopes Cabral, tipping over another sweetly struck effort that was heading for the top corner.
