Argentina survive two Cape Verde equalisers to reach World Cup quarter-finals

Argentina scraped through to the World Cup quarter-finals with a 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in Miami, twice being pegged back by the African minnows before Cristian Romero’s deflected header sealed a nervy win.

Lionel Messi gave the holders the lead with a brilliant first-half finish, but Cape Verde refused to be overrun. Deroy Duarte fired home an equaliser from a tight angle early in the second half, silencing most of the crowd and sending a small island nation of roughly 500,000 people into raptures.

Argentina pushed hard for a winner in normal time, but goalkeeper Vozinha — one of the standout performers of the tournament — denied Messi twice, including a sharp stop in the closing minutes that forced extra-time and kept alive the prospect of the biggest upset in World Cup history.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez appeared to end the drama in the opening minutes of extra-time, converting from close range after being given too much time and space at the back post from a corner. Cape Verde, however, had one more moment of magic left.

Sidny Lopes cut in from the left and bent a strike into the far top corner to level at 2-2 — a goal that will surely be remembered as one of the finest of the tournament. Lopes sprinted into the stands, evading security to embrace a Cape Verde supporter, with the celebration matching the magnitude of the moment.

Argentina finally put the game beyond doubt when Romero met a Messi out-swinging corner and headed home, the ball deflecting past Vozinha with less than ten minutes remaining in extra-time. It was a fitting end to a contest in which the holders were made to work far harder than anyone anticipated.

Cape Verde depart the tournament having drawn with Spain, beaten Uruguay, and pushed the world champions to the brink. Argentina, meanwhile, advance — but they will know they cannot afford another performance like this if they are to defend their title.