Argentina Survive Cape Verde Scare At Extra-time World Cup Thriller
Although their World Cup journey came to an end, Cape Verde departed Miami with their reputation significantly enhanced.
Incredible Vizinha
Defending World Cup champions Argentina survived a spirited challenge from African debutants Cape Verde, requiring extra time to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory on Friday and book their ticket for the competition’s Round of 16.
Lionel Messi scored the opening goal and later delivered the corner that led to the decisive own goal as Argentina ended Cape Verde’s remarkable campaign.
Argentina eventually surged back six minutes into the second period of extra time when Messi’s corner caused confusion inside the penalty area, with defender Diney Borges inadvertently turning Cristian Romero’s header into his own net.
The goal finally broke the resistance of a Cape Verde side that refused to be intimidated despite facing one of football’s most decorated nations.
Messi had given Argentina the lead in the 29th minute after latching onto a long pass from Lisandro Martínez.
The Argentine captain controlled the ball brilliantly with the outside of his left foot before firing into the roof of the net beyond veteran goalkeeper Vozinha for his seventh goal of the tournament.
Cape Verde, however, continued to play with belief. Having already impressed during the group stage with draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, the Blue Sharks once again showed discipline, organisation and determination. Their persistence paid off just before the hour mark.
Captain Ryan Mendes broke down the right flank before delivering a low pass into the penalty area where Deroy Duarte controlled with his left foot before calmly finishing past Emiliano Martínez to level the score at 1-1.
The equaliser stunned the majority of the crowd, who had expected Argentina to progress comfortably. Instead, Cape Verde continued to frustrate the South Americans, with Vozinha producing a performance that will be remembered long after the tournament.
The 40-year-old repeatedly denied Messi during the second half. He rushed off his line to block a point-blank effort from the Argentine captain in the 63rd minute before producing a superb fingertip save to push away one of Messi’s trademark free kicks ten minutes later.
He was called into action again in stoppage time, reacting sharply to keep out another Messi free kick through a crowded penalty area, before making yet another outstanding save early in extra time to deny the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner from the edge of the box.
Despite Vozinha’s heroics, Argentina regained the lead just two minutes into extra time. Defender Lisandro Martínez collected possession on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a powerful strike into the roof of the net to make it 2-1. Once again, however, Cape Verde refused to surrender.
In the 103rd minute, left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral curled a magnificent effort into the top corner to draw the Blue Sharks level for a second time and reignite hopes of an extraordinary upset.
With penalties looming, Argentina finally found the breakthrough they desperately needed.
Messi’s dangerous corner into the six-yard area was met by Cristian Romero, whose header deflected off Cape Verde defender Diney Borges before crossing the goal line to restore Argentina’s advantage at 3-2.
Cape Verde still had one final opportunity to force a penalty shootout, but Lopes Cabral’s well-struck free kick was brilliantly saved by Emiliano Martínez in the closing minutes as Argentina held on to secure qualification.
Although their World Cup journey came to an end, Cape Verde departed Miami with their reputation significantly enhanced.
Ranked 67th by FIFA World before the tournament, the Blue Sharks became the only one of the four World Cup debutants to progress beyond the group stage and pushed the defending champions to extra time in a display full of courage and resilience.
The team’s result guarantees Cape Verde prize money of $11 million from FIFA, but perhaps more importantly, the Blue Sharks leave the tournament having firmly put their little on the map for those who knew little or nothing about it.
