Argentina survive Cape Verde scare in extra-time thriller to avoid World Cup upset

Reigning champions Argentina move on to face Egypt in the last 16.

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MIAMI: Defending champions Argentina survived a monumental scare before defeating Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time to keep their World Cup dream alive on Friday (Jul 3).

Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, had looked on course for a straightforward win when the talisman opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a typically composed finish.

But Cape Verde refused to be overawed. 

Midfielder Deroy Duarte levelled the score in the 59th minute, capping a disciplined display that pushed the contest into extra time and forced Argentina to expend more energy than they would have wanted in the sapping Miami heat.

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The defending champions looked to have regained control when defender Lisandro Martínez scored in extra time, restoring Argentina’s lead.

But the drama was far from over.

Cape Verde struck back once more through Sidny Cabral, whose stunning shot rocketed into the top corner.

Another Argentina corner finally got the job done when Cristian Romero rose highest to head Messi's corner, the ball going in off a deflection from Diney Borges for an own goal.

Argentina, who are bidding to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 1962, will play Egypt on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said losing to Cape Verde "would have been madness".

It was "a very tough match; you always have to take the positives - this team (Argentina) never gives up", Scaloni said.

"We have to congratulate the opponent; when people say there are no easy opponents, they proved today that they are a great team," he emphasised.

"We finished very tired ... they gave it their all."

For Cape Verde, their performance - going toe-to-toe with the reigning champions and taking the match into extra time - marks a huge achievement on the world stage.

The Blue Sharks had served warning of what they were capable of by holding European champions Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws in Group H to reach the knockout stages in their first World Cup appearance.

Coach Bubista said the meeting with the world champions would be "the game of our lives" and it showed in a spirited display that had Argentina sweating.

On his return to the city where he plays his club football for Inter Miami, Messi's every move was greeted like a god by the nearly 65,000 crowd, mainly in Argentina shirts.

In opening the scoring on Friday, Messi also extended his own record of scoring in eight consecutive World Cup games and opened up a two-goal cushion once more over France's Kylian Mbappe in the battle to be the competition's all-time top goalscorer.

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