Argentina narrowly avoided an early World Cup exit, overcoming a spirited Cape Verde side in a dramatic Round of 32 match that pushed the tournament holders to the limit. The African debutants twice fought back from behind, with a spectacular strike from Sidny Lopes Cabral in extra time bringing them level at 2-2 before Cristian Romero ultimately secured Argentina's 3-2 victory nine minutes from the end.
The match, described as the best of the tournament so far, was a showcase of drama and resilience. Cape Verde, ranked 64th in FIFA's rankings, consistently defied expectations against the reigning champions. Their performance stunned Lionel Messi and his teammates, who were made to look ordinary for significant periods of the game.
Argentina took the lead in the 29th minute when Messi controlled a long pass from Lisandro Martinez and fired past Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who had earned cult hero status after a standout performance against Spain. However, Cape Verde equalized in the 59th minute through Deroy Duarte, whose shot deflected through Lisandro Martinez's legs.
Messi had opportunities to restore Argentina's lead, including a shot saved by Vozinha and a free kick that curled towards the top corner, but the Cape Verde goalkeeper was a formidable presence. In the first period of extra time, Lisandro Martinez's powerful shot put Argentina ahead again, seemingly ending Cape Verde's challenge.
But Lopes Cabral then produced a goal of the tournament contender in the 104th minute, curling a shot from a tight angle into the net. His exuberant celebration, involving a run into the crowd to embrace his girlfriend, became an iconic moment of the tournament, raising hopes of an astonishing upset.
Despite the setback, Argentina responded. A corner from Messi in the second period of extra time deflected off Cristian Romero and Cape Verde defender Diney Borges into the net, proving to be the decisive goal. Emiliano Martinez made a crucial save to deny Lopes Cabral a late equalizer from a free kick.
The near-upset by Cape Verde, a team with only one player in Europe's top five leagues, has been highlighted as one of the greatest potential shocks in World Cup history, drawing comparisons to North Korea's 1966 win over Italy and the USA's 1950 victory against England.
Cape Verde's journey in their first World Cup finals included a draw with Spain, largely due to the goalkeeping heroics of Vozinha, who is now 40 and currently unattached. The team also featured players like Pico Lopes, a Shamrock Rovers player who was recruited via LinkedIn and previously worked as a mortgage advisor.
Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16. The match also saw Messi score his seventh goal of the tournament, moving him ahead of Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot. The presence of David Beckham, part-owner of Inter Miami, at the match in his adopted city, was also noted.