Argentina staged an extraordinary late comeback against Egypt on Tuesday, scoring three goals in the final 21 minutes to secure a 3-2 victory and a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals.
The defending champions were trailing by two goals before initiating their surge. Christian Romero ignited the comeback in the 79th minute with a goal off a precise assist from Lionel Messi, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. This goal appeared to energize the Argentine squad, which then applied sustained pressure on the Egyptian defense.
Messi himself found the back of the net in the 83rd minute, capitalizing on a free look at goal. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner struck a volley past Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, with the ball hitting the crossbar before going in. This goal compensated for a penalty kick Messi missed earlier in the 21st minute, making him the only player to miss two penalties in the current World Cup edition.
Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez sealed the victory for Argentina with the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute, as the match opened up considerably.
Egypt had posed a significant threat for much of the game, scoring twice, with an additional goal disallowed due to a foul in the build-up. Their first goal came in the 15th minute from a corner routine, and their second in the 67th minute resulted from a counter-attack. Despite conceding three goals, Shobeir made several key saves, including one on Messi's penalty, showcasing his performance on the international stage.
This victory marks the second consecutive match where Argentina faced a stern test, following their narrow 3-2 win against Cape Verde in their previous outing. Messi's goal places him in sole possession of the lead in the World Cup Golden Boot race, and his assist further bolsters his standing.
Argentina is set to face the winner of the Switzerland-Colombia match in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal clash against Norway or England on the horizon.