Messi decisive, Vozinha outstanding as Argentina edge Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time | OneFootball

Lionel Messi proved decisive as Argentina edged Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in Miami in the World Cup round of 32 on Friday, with goalkeeper Vozinha outstanding, the 40-year-old making eight saves.

According to L'Équipe, Messi and Vozinha were among the standouts, each graded 7. Lisandro Martinez also earned 7, while Sidny Lopes Cabral took 6. Nuno Da Costa received 2 and Lautaro Martinez 3.

Messi controlled Lisandro Martinez's pass superbly to open the scoring in the first half. On 59 minutes Deroy Duarte's strike went through Lisandro Martinez's legs.

Messi then saw a right-foot effort in a one-on-one saved by Vozinha on 63 minutes after a neat lay-off from Lautaro Martinez, who was soon replaced by Julian Alvarez. Vozinha tipped over Messi free-kicks on 73 minutes and at 90+5. Meanwhile Cape Verde striker Nuno Da Costa, isolated up front with only 12 touches, made way for Livramento on 67 minutes.

Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina's lead on 92 minutes at the start of extra time, finding space as Livramento lost his man. Sidny Lopes Cabral made it 2-2 on 103 minutes with a gorgeous right-foot curler from the corner of the box despite being left-footed. Messi's corner then led to Cristian Romero's 111th-minute winner, his header glancing in off Duarte.

Cabral almost forced penalties with a direct free-kick on 116 minutes, but Emiliano Martinez clawed it away. The centre-forward duel continues between Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, with neither doing enough to pull clear.

Source: L'Équipe