Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time to advance to the Round of 16, where they will face Egypt.
The defending champions ended the Blue Sharks’ fairy-tale run, but the underdogs bowed out with immense pride after producing one of the tournament’s most inspiring performances.
Cape Verde, the lowest-ranked side to reach the World Cup knockout stages on their debut, captured the world’s imagination with fearless football and unbreakable spirit. They pushed the holders all the way in a pulsating encounter.
Lionel Messi gave Argentina the lead in the first half with a clinical finish, expertly controlling Lisandro Martínez’s lobbed diagonal pass before poking the ball into the roof of the net his seventh goal of the tournament, moving him top of the Golden Boot race.
The Blue Sharks refused to wilt. Buoyed by the occasion, they attacked with courage. Ryan Mendes tested the defence early, and after the break Deroy Duarte forced a sharp save from Emiliano Martínez.
Moments later, Duarte struck again, latching onto Mendes’ pass and rifling home from a tight angle to level the score and send the game into extra time. Goalkeeper Vozinha starred throughout, pulling off eight crucial saves, including two stunning stops to deny Messi.
In extra time, Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina’s lead with a powerful strike from a corner. But Cape Verde hit back immediately as Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a stunning goal curling the ball into the top corner from an acute angle, a strike many called the goal of the tournament.
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Cristian Romero eventually headed home the winner from another Messi corner, with a slight deflection off Diney Borges sealing the victory for La Selección. Even then, Cape Verde kept fighting. Lopes Cabral unleashed another powerful free-kick, but Martínez palmed it away.
Despite the defeat their first of the tournament Cape Verde exit as heroes. They wrote history by reaching the knockouts and delivered a memorable performance that earned global admiration. Argentina advance, but the Blue Sharks’ remarkable dream run will long be remembered.
