Lionel Messi and defending champion Argentina narrowly avoided the biggest upset in World Cup history, taking a two-goal lead before defeating Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time to advance to the round of 16.
Messi took the lead in the first half by extending his record with his 20th World Cup goal, and Argentina looked set to win against Cape Verde, the smallest country in history to reach the finals. However, things went awry when Deroy Duarte scored an equalizer in the 59th minute and the African side persisted to take the match into extra time.
Just two minutes into extra time, Lisandro Martinez scored a goal, and it looked like Argentina would be doomed. But Cape Verde’s Sidney López Cabral scored one of the best equalizers I’ve ever seen, a long-range shot from an impossible angle.
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In the second extra period, Argentina scored the winning goal from a corner kick with an own goal from Cape Verde’s Dinny Borge. Cape Verde attacked hard in search of a third equaliser, but could not find the net, resulting in one of the most improbable conceded goals in World Cup history.
Competing for the first time, Cape Verde held off Spain, the favorites to win the tournament, to a draw in their opening match, and then followed up with a similar victory over two-time champions Uruguay. Cape Verde advanced to the round of 32 in second place after drawing with Saudi Arabia in the final group match.
Argentina will play Egypt in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, June 7th in Atlanta.
A few minutes into Argentina’s second extra period, Cape Verde’s Dinny Borges deflected a corner kick past Bosinha and into the net.
The game remained tied and went into the final 15 minutes of overtime.
Sidney López Cabral scored one of the most amazing goals I’ve ever seen. To my surprise, the score was tied at 2-2 once again.
Argentina added another point in the 92nd minute when defender Lisandro Martínez dove on the ball inside the box and fired a shot past Bosinha.
The Round of 32 match between Argentina and Cape Verde will require another 30 minutes and possibly a penalty shootout, but it could go down as one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
An Argentine player called for a handball inside the penalty area, and his header deflected an awkward deflection from a Cape Verdean player. VAR says no.
Cape Verde sat deep and continued to defend with six minutes left in regulation.
Lionel Messi surprised everyone by taking a free kick from just outside the box while the wall was still in place, but the Cape Verde goalkeeper made an incredible save and the score remained 1-1 going into the water break.
Cape Verde’s Kevin Pina was given a yellow for knocking down Messi in front of the top of the box.
But his free-kick hit the wall as Argentina looked to regain the lead.
MLS veterans Jamiro Montiero and Dairon Livramento have joined Nuno da Costa and Lalos Duarte in the race to represent Cape Verde.
It might be a good idea to go here.
The level has risen again, with two changes from Scaloni, with Lautaro Martinez leaving and Julian Alvarez, and Thiago Almada replacing Nico Gonzalez.
Well, it seemed like it was a chance, but Messi couldn’t get to his left and aimed at goal with his right foot. Here the Cape Verde goalkeeper did the job.
Duarte won’t miss it! The Argentine fans who filled the venue were stunned. Mendes makes a square pass to Duarte, who finishes from an off angle to tie the game!
Is there a shock going on here?
Deroy Duarte received a strong touch from an Argentine defender and went into the end, but Argentine national goalkeeper Dave Martinez stopped him.
A long ball from the right wing rattled Nahuel Molina alone at the back post, but the ball was too far in front of him to beat.
The shot went into the back post and two Cape Verde players collided as they went for a header. Argentina clears this and maintains a lead with a minimal margin.
Cape Verde and Argentina kicked off the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Will Cape Verde be able to score the equalizing goal or can the defending champions turn this into a crushing defeat?
Lionel Messi scored his 20th World Cup goal in the 29th minute, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead and scoring his seventh goal of the tournament. Cape Verde didn’t have much possession of the ball, and Argentina pushed hard to score more points.
With less than 10 minutes left until halftime, Messi’s goal was the difference between the two teams.
Messi has now scored in eight consecutive World Cup games, extending his own record.
Who else but Lionel Messi? The 39-year-old played a long ball inside the box, past Vosinha, and scored his 20th World Cup goal.
Cape Verde held Argentina in check for the first 22 minutes and went into the rehydration break with the score 0-0.
Lionel Messi scored with a long free kick, but Cape Verde goalkeeper Vosinha easily dealt with the equalizer.
Although the crowd in Miami was full of Argentines, the atmosphere in the stadium was more subdued than at Argentina’s group stage matches. While the Albiceleste moves the ball around the field and tries to break through Cape Verde’s blocks, there are times when songs break out, but there are also moments of silence.
– John Arnold
Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cup games, starting with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which Argentina won.
We’re scoreless for 10 minutes here in Miami.
The match looked like it was going to be tough from the start, but the Argentina midfielder (and Messi’s Inter Miami teammate) was whistled for a brutal tackle in the opening minutes.
The match is underway at Hard Rock Stadium.
Argentina starting players: Draw Martinez. Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Medina. Rodrigo de Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandes. Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Thiago Almada
Cape Verde’s star players: Bosinha, Dinny Borges, Pico López, Sidney López Cabral, Steven Moreira, Kevin Pina, Jovan Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Lalos Duarte, Ryan Mendez (captain), Nuno da Costa.
Forward Ryan Mendez, captain of Cape Verde’s World Cup team, will start tonight’s Round of 32 match against defending champion Argentina at Hard Rock Stadium.
Mendez played in all three of the Blue Sharks’ group stage games, but did not score or assist.
According to Brazilian News Agency, Mendes is being investigated for rape in New Zealand. Globo. Mendes is accused of sexually assaulting a woman who worked as an interpreter for the team during a visit to New Zealand.
The matchup will kick off at 6pm ET.
Seth Terny: Argentina 3-0 Cape Verde
Cape Verde is a great story, but playing Argentina in the World Cup finals in humid Miami will be too much to overcome.
john arnold: Argentina 4-0 Cape Verde
Argentina has already succeeded in dismantling teams that are trying to play defense. Behind a partisan crowd, even in hot and humid Miami, you get it done without breaking a sweat.
Jesse Yomtov: Argentina 4-0 Cape Verde
Cape Verde have had some fun here, but this ruthless Argentina team has no intention of slowing down when things get into high gear.
victoria hernandez: Argentina 3-1 Cape Verde
Cape Verde’s trip is incredible, but Lionel Messi and Argentina are unforgiving in win-or-go-home games.
The Round of 32 match will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
How many goals does Lionel Messi have in the World Cup?
Lionel Messi enters Friday’s Round of 32 match having scored a record 19 goals in his FIFA World Cup career.
history of argentina world cup
albiceleste They have won the World Cup three times: in 1978, 1986, and 2022.
Argentina also finished as runners-up in 1990 and 2014. The country has appeared in all but one World Cup since 1958 (1970).
Argentina’s Lionel Messi is 5 feet 7 inches tall.
The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19th at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Explore USA TODAY Sports’ latest brackets here.
