MIAMI — Argentina was given a huge scare before ending Cape Verde’s fairytale run as Lionel Messi netted his 20th World Cup goal in a 3-2 win after extra-time to reach the last 16.
Messi’s sublime control and finish for his seventh goal at this tournament in four games put the defending champions in command, but the Blue Sharks doggedly refused to go away.
Deroy Duarte’s strike on the hour mark forced Argentina to expand more energy than they would have wanted in the sapping Miami heat.
Lisandro Martinez briefly restored Argentina’s lead early in extra time before Sidny Lopes Cabral’s 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.
La Albiceleste will face Egypt on Tuesday in Atlanta, but there were concerns for Lionel Scaloni on his 100th match in charge despite what appears a favorable draw.
Scaloni said it “would have been madness” to lose to the underdogs.
“A very tough match; you always have to take the positives-this team (Argentina) never gives up,” he 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 added.
“We finished very tired... they gave it their all.”
Cape Verde 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.
The Blue Sharks 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.
The 39-year-old produced a moment of magic with a feather-like touch from Lisandro Martinez’s pass to set up a high finish past Vozinha to open the scoring.
In doing so 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.
Emi Martinez had been a spectator in the first half, but the Aston Villa goalkeeper was forced into a smart save by Duarte as Cape Verde started the second period with more attacking intent.
Martinez was powerless for the equalizer moments later when Duarte was picked out by Ryan Mendes and rifled a low shot into the far corner.
Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha became an internet sensation after his man-of-the-match showing against Spain last month. AFP
