Argentina’s path to the World Cup Round of 16 was anything but smooth Friday evening in Miami, as the reigning world champions required an extra-time own goal to outlast a gutsy Cape Verde squad 3-2 in front of 64,478 fans at a steamy Miami Stadium.
Cape Verde, competing in their very first World Cup, made history just by reaching the Round of 32 — and nearly made more of it by pushing the three-time world champions to the absolute limit. The African nation came back from a goal down not once, but twice, stunning the overwhelming majority of the packed crowd into silence.
The decisive moment came six minutes into the second period of extra time, when Lionel Messi whipped a corner kick into the box. Cristian Romero rose to meet it and headed the ball home off the arm of Cape Verde’s Diney Borges, sending Argentina through to face Egypt in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Messi had opened the scoring in the 29th minute — his seventh goal of the tournament — when Lisandro Martinez lifted a long ball over the Cape Verde defense and into the feet of the 39-year-old star. Messi controlled it with the outside of his left boot and finished it into the roof of the net for his 20th career World Cup goal across six tournaments.
Cape Verde refused to fold. Deroy Duarte drew the sides level just before the hour mark, finishing off a pass from captain Ryan Mendes with a composed strike — controlling with his left foot and drilling past the goalkeeper with his right.
Argentina appeared to have settled it early in the first period of extra time when Lisandro Martinez unleashed a stunning shot into the top of the net to make it 2-1. But Cape Verde left back Sidny Lopes Cabral answered with a curling effort into the top corner to level things at 2-2 and keep his nation’s dream alive.
Even after the decisive own goal, Lopes Cabral had a chance to equalize again from a free kick, but Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced a sharp save to preserve the win in the closing moments.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who was overseeing his 100th match leading the national team, acknowledged the difficulty of the contest. “The match was incredibly tough. You always have to take the positive, and it’s that this team never gives up,” he said. “I want to congratulate our opponents, today they showed they are a great team. When it is said there are no easy matches in the World Cup, it’s true.”
For much of the game, Cape Verde libero Kevin Pina was arguably the standout player on the field, and Argentina — Messi aside — struggled to break down a disciplined and organized Cape Verde defense. The island nation had frustrated Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia with draws during the group stage, and they brought that same never-say-die mentality into this match.
Cape Verde coach Bubista was emotional but proud following the defeat. “I’m proud of my team, the work they’ve put in,” he said. “We must take pride in what we’ve done for our country. To be able to play the way we did against the world champions, and to draw level twice, is something incredible.”
Ranked 67th in the world heading into the tournament and the only World Cup debutant to advance past the group stage, Cape Verde returns home having left a lasting impression on the global soccer stage. “More than anything, we must be proud of what we’ve achieved,” Bubista added. “This World Cup has done justice to our efforts. It has shown our character. It’s a shame to lose, but it was incredible.”
