Argentina survive Cape Verde's two extra-time equalisers to reach World Cup last 16

Argentina edged past Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in a breathless World Cup Round of 32 tie in South Florida on Friday, with the defending champions requiring a 111th-minute own goal to finally see off the tournament’s most unlikely story.

Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute with his 20th career World Cup goal — a record-extending finish hammered into the roof of the net after a perfectly timed run onto a lofted pass from Lisandro Martínez. Sidny Lopes Cabral equalised for Cape Verde, before Martínez restored Argentina’s lead in the 92nd minute. Deroy Duarte levelled again, and Cabral’s curling right-footed strike past Emiliano Martínez in the 103rd minute made it 2-2, raising the genuine prospect of a penalty shootout. Argentina’s winner came when Cristian Romero’s header deflected off Cape Verde defender Diney Borges in the 111th minute.

“I have to give credit to our opponents,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “The truth is, when people say there’s no such thing as an easy opponent, today Cape Verde proved they’re a great team.”

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, made 10 saves across the match — five of them against Messi — and had already been the cornerstone of a remarkable tournament run for the island nation of 525,000 people. The Blue Sharks entered the knockout stage having drawn against former champions Spain and Uruguay, as well as Saudi Arabia, becoming the smallest country ever to reach the World Cup’s knockout rounds.

“We dignify what our country is. We drew twice against the world champions, we took it to extra time,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said. “More than anything, it’s being proud of our players who were dignified in the World Cup. We showed our identity.”

Messi, reflecting on yet another hard-fought Argentina performance, was characteristically measured. “As this team has demonstrated many times, and as I’ve said many times, it competes,” he said. “And we competed to the end.”

Argentina will face Egypt — who beat Australia in a penalty shootout earlier on Friday — in Atlanta on Tuesday.