Argentina avoided the biggest upset in World Cup history after Diney Borges’ own-goal in extra-time rescued a 3-2 win over Cape Verde to book their place in the last 16 of the tournament.
The lowest-ranked nation ever to qualify for the knockouts had the odds stacked against them but pushed the reigning champions to their very limits and the brink of elimination in one of the great World Cup games.
It looked to be business as usual after Lionel Messi’s sublime opener but the first shock came when Deroy Duarte squeezed his effort into the far corner just before the hour mark to draw his side level.
A sloppy and laboured showing from Argentina then followed to see out regular time, before they thought their blushes had been spared when Lisandro Martinez whipped his effort into the top right corner in the second minute of extra time.
Sidny Lopes Cabral then stunned the entire Miami Stadium – and footballing world – when he curled in arguably the goal of the tournament to dramatically draw Cape Verde level in the 103rd minute.
Tension began to fester for Argentina as time went on – as well as belief for Cape Verde that they could pull off the impossible – until Cristian Romero’s header from a corner deflected off Borges to rescue victory for Lionel Scaloni’s side.
They will now face Egypt in the last 16 of the tournament, but the story lies with Cape Verde despite the defeat.
A country with a population of just over 600,000, a fifth of Buenos Aires, bowing out of the tournament with their heads held incredibly high.
They arrived as a relatively unknown entity for their first appearance on the biggest stage of them all, but they leave with unforgettable memories and performances against Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and Argentina that will be etched in history forever.
The key moments from Miami…
29: GOAL! Messi opens the scoring with sublime touch and finish to settle Argentina nerves
59: SHOCK EQUALISER! Duarte squeezes his effort into the far corner to draw Cape Verde level
73: STUNNING SAVE! Vozinha makes one of many saves to keep Messi’s free-kick out
90+5: ANOTHER SAVE! Messi’s free-kick deflects into the path of Vozinha, who denies him again
92: GOAL! L. Martinez whips shot into top right corner to restore Argentina’s lead
103: SPEECHLESS! S. Cabral curls goal of the tournament contender in to draw Cape Verde level again
111: GOAL! Romero’s header deflects in off Diney to break Cape Verde hearts
One of the great World Cup games in pictures!
Lionel Messi scores the opening goal for Argentina against Cape Verde at the World Cup
Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal against Argentina
Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup match against Cape Verde in Miami
Argentina’s Lionel Messi reacts as Cape Verde players celebrate their second goal scored by Cape Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral
Cape Verde’s Diney Borges’s own-goal which won the game for Argentina
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