Argentina beat Cape Verde with great emotions, score 3-2 after extra time, in the sixteenth round of the World Cup, in one of the most spectacular matches of the tournament. In the round of 16, the world champion will meet Egypt.
Lionel Messi sounded the first alarm with a shot wide of the goal, and then opened the scoring in the 29th minute. The Argentine star took advantage of a superb pass from Lisandro Martinez, who sent it over the entire opposition defense, and beat Vozinha with an elegant finish from the left. With this success, Messi reached 20 goals at the World Championships, becoming the first player in history to reach this milestone. At the same time, he marked his 30th match at a final World Cup tournament.
After the break, Argentina slowed down
Cape Verde took courage. The surprise came in the 59th minute when Ludogorets midfielder Deroy Duarte equalized after receiving a pass from Ryan Mendes with a shot placed in the far corner.
Argentina came close to replying immediately, but Messi missed alone with the keeper after another excellent pass in behind the defence. A few minutes later, Vozinha had another great intervention, denying a free kick executed by the Argentine captain. As time wore on, the South Americans were beginning to feel the pressure of a historic elimination.
Argentina decided the match in extra time
The match went into extra time after Argentina failed to break away in regulation time. At the start of the first extra period, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez put Argentina back in front with a spectacular shot at the crossbar.
However, Cape Verde did not give in and managed to equalize with one of the goals of the tournament. Lopes Cabral, the player of Benfica, sent a fantastic shot directly into the web of the defended goal by Emiliano Martinez in the 103rd minute.
Argentina’s qualification was decided in the 111th minute after Cristian Romero’s header was deflected into his own net by Diney. In the end, Cape Verde forced the tie and had several important chances, but Emiliano Martinez made decisive interventions and saved the world champions. After 123 dramatic minutes, Argentina qualified with great excitement, narrowly avoiding one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.
