On Friday, Argentina aimed to continue its pursuit of consecutive World Cup titles. The team faced Cape Verde, a standout in this year’s tournament. Despite being ranked 64th in the world, the small island nation off West Africa’s coast held Argentina, ranked second globally, scoreless for nearly thirty minutes.
In the 29th minute, Lionel Messi broke the deadlock, scoring his 20th World Cup goal. This achievement made him the first player to net seven or more goals in multiple World Cups. Messi’s goal marked his eighth consecutive World Cup match with a scoring record.
Typically, Argentina maintains their lead once ahead. However, early in the second half, Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte equalized the score at 1-1 with a remarkable goal.
As the game progressed, Argentina applied pressure. Messi attempted a dangerous free kick from just outside the box, yet Cape Verde successfully defended it. The match went into extra time shortly after.
Despite Cape Verde’s defensive efforts, Lisandro Martinez scored in the 92nd minute, putting Argentina ahead once more. Yet, Cape Verde remained resilient. In the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral scored an extraordinary goal, tying the game once again.
Remarkably, Argentina had only conceded two goals in their last ten World Cup matches, a feat Cape Verde matched in this single game.
In the 111th minute, Messi’s corner kick found Cristian Romero, who headed the ball towards the goal. The ball eventually deflected off a Cape Verde defender’s arm, leading to an own goal. Despite this, it secured Argentina’s victory on the scoreboard.
Cape Verde’s performance was commendable, but Argentina held on to avoid what could have been a historic World Cup upset. With this match concluded, Argentina prepares for a challenging Round of 16 match against Egypt, scheduled for Tuesday in Atlanta.