Argentina Hangs On as Cape Verde Push Champions into Extra Time | OneFootball

Argentina had to survive extra time to avoid a shocking Round of 32 exit against World Cup debutants Cape Verde, eventually grinding out a victory while desperately waiting for the final whistle to secure their place in the Round of 16.

Thanks to goals from Lionel Messi, Lisandro Martínez and an own goal by Diney Borges, Lionel Scaloni’s side booked a date with Egypt next Tuesday in Atlanta.

No Walk in the Park

Around 65,000 Argentine supporters packed Miami Stadium, turning it into Argentine territory for one night. Everyone spoke the same language, everyone sang in perfect harmony the historic chants that Argentine barras made famous back in the 1950s.

Argentina came flying out of the gates and created the first danger in the 14th minute when Lionel Messi fired just wide of Vozinha’s left post.

Cape Verde came out aggressively, but after the opening 15 minutes retreated almost entirely into their own half, handing possession over to Argentina.

The Albiceleste kept knocking on the door. Messi forced Vozinha into a routine save from a free kick in the 16th minute, and two minutes later Thiago Almada whipped in a dangerous cross that somehow found no finishing touch. Argentina’s superiority was becoming impossible to ignore.

After the hydration break, in the 28th minute, Messi produced a sublime first touch from a Lisandro Martínez pass before calmly finishing with his left foot past Vozinha to make it 1-0.

It was Messi’s eighth consecutive World Cup match with a goal and the 20th World Cup goal of his career. The Argentine captain has now scored in every stage of the tournament: group stage, Round of 32, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the Final.

The goal sent Miami Stadium into absolute madness. It also relieved the pressure on Argentina, who had been pushing relentlessly from kickoff, while forcing Cape Verde to finally leave the comfort of their own penalty area. Even the Argentine fans—who never stop singing—could finally relax after growing increasingly impatient with every missed opportunity.

By halftime, the entire stadium was singing “Muchachos, ahora nos volvimos a ilusionar.” Even if nothing much was happening on the field anymore, that chant somehow gives you goosebumps every single time.

Argentina headed into the break with a deserved lead.

Blue Sharks Find Their Bite

The Blue Sharks came out much better after halftime. In the 53rd minute Deroy Duarte forced Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez into his first real save of the evening after the Argentine goalkeeper had enjoyed a virtually spectator-like first half.

Five minutes later came the shock.

Ryan Mendes drove the ball down the right side, appearing to set up for a cross. But instead he tapped a pass to Duarte, who took a touch and fired a low strike that slipped through Lisandro Martínez’s legs before beating Dibu to level the match at 1-1.

Nobody inside the stadium saw that coming.

Still, the Argentine crowd kept singing “Vamos a ser campeón” as if nothing had happened. Confidence remained sky high… perhaps a little too high.

Argentina responded almost immediately. Messi found himself one-on-one with Vozinha but smashed his shot straight at the Cape Verde goalkeeper, who produced yet another huge save. It felt like the No. 10 may have had better options than simply trying to overpower him.

Scaloni reacted by introducing Julián Álvarez and Nico González, replacing Lautaro Martínez and Thiago Almada, who had contributed little, if anything, throughout the night.

Vozinha continued putting together the performance of his life in the 72nd minute. Messi stood over a free kick a few feet off the top of the box. Referee Drew Fischer blew his whistle for the restart while Vozinha was still guiding his wall. Messi took his shot, curling it into the top corner before the Verdean keeper scrambled to palm it away.

Control, but not Confidence

By the second hydration break, Argentina had regained complete control but could not shake off the growing anxiety of seeing the clock tick away with the score still tied.

Television cameras repeatedly found David Beckham, Inter Miami co-owner, NBA legend Manu Ginóbili, Diego Simeone and Javier Pastore in the stands. Like everyone else, they had come to watch Messi.

Argentina nearly reclaimed the lead when Nico González delivered a perfect cross toward Julián Álvarez, who only needed a tap-in into an empty net, but Pico Lopes somehow threw himself in front of the ball to save Cape Verde.

Argentina attacked wave after wave. Cape Verde defended with absolutely everything.

Scaloni’s team kept crossing, shooting and piling bodies forward, while Cape Verde parked what looked less like a bus and more like an entire fleet in front of their goal.

Vozinha denied Cristian Romero late on before Messi, deep into stoppage time, saw another free kick comfortably stopped by the veteran goalkeeper.

Cape Verde Undefeated for the 4th time…

Cape Verde just completed four World Cup matches without losing in regulation time.

At the beginning of extra time, however, the wall named Vozinha finally cracked. Following a corner kick, the loose ball fell kindly to Lisandro Martínez, who blasted it past the 40-year-old goalkeeper. VAR briefly reviewed the play before confirming the goal.

Argentina sensed blood against a visibly exhausted Cape Verde side.

Coach Pedro Leitão Brito replaced goalscorer Deroy Duarte with Yannick Semedo, while Gilson Bechimol entered for Kevin Pina as the Africans desperately searched for another miracle.

And then…

All Hail Cabral!

Another miracle happened.

Just before halftime in extra time, Sidny Lopes Cabral unleashed an absolute rocket from outside the box that flew into the top corner beyond Dibu Martínez.

The celebration was so emotional that Cabral sprinted all the way into the stands to celebrate with the supporters. Drew Fischer thankfully recognized the significance of the moment and kept his yellow card in his pocket.

The goal stunned everyone. Argentina had switched off for one brief moment, and Cape Verde punished them. For the first time all night, the 65,000 Argentine fans fell completely silent.

Argentina responded once more, but Vozinha somehow denied Gonzalo Montiel after the defender had replaced Nahuel Molina.

By now Messi was visibly exhausted, yet Scaloni refused to substitute him, clearly preparing for the possibility of a penalty shootout.

The Winner

Then, in the 110th minute, Argentina finally found the winner.

Messi’s corner found Cristian “Cuti” Romero, whose header restored Argentina’s lead at 3-2 after another exhausting battle.

A hard-earned victory.

A painful victory.

A victory that demanded every ounce of energy the reigning world champions had left.

Cape Verde still had one final chance.

In the 115th minute, Dibu Martínez produced a miraculous save from a free kick that seemed destined for the net, earning deafening chants of “Dibuuu! Dibuuu!” from the Argentine faithful.

There was finally no time left.

Argentina avoided penalties—but only just.

Don’t Call Cape Verde Losers

The reigning world champions reached the Round of 16 after spending the closing minutes desperately asking the referee to blow the final whistle, while Cape Verde left its first-ever World Cup with heads held high after delivering one of the tournament’s most unforgettable underdog performances.

In the words of Thierry Henry: “Cape Verde lost the game, but won our hearts.”