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.
Cape Verde's Deroy Duarte (14) defends against Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) during the World Cup round of 32 match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Jul 3, 2026. (Photo: AP/Chris Carlson)
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, and midfielder Deroy Duarte levelled the score in the 59th minute, capping a disciplined display that pushed the contest into extra time.
The defending champions looked to have regained control when defender Lisandro MartÃnez 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 103rd-minute screamer stunned Argentina and brought the debutants level again.
It was left for defender Christian Romero to salvage the win eight minutes later via a deflected header off Diney Borges, as Cape Verde were unable to come back for the third time.
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 smallest nation ever to reach the knockout rounds had dreamed of pulling off the greatest upset in World Cup history.
The team from the Atlantic archipelago have become one of the fairytale stories of this year's expanded 48-team tournament, confounding expectations by earning a draw with Spain before squeezing into the last 32 ahead of Group H rivals Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
