Argentina Survives Cape Verde’s Challenge in World Cup Thriller

Argentina narrowly avoided a historic World Cup upset by defeating Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time. Cape Verde, an island nation off Africa’s west coast with a population of 525,000, became the smallest country to reach the World Cup knockout stage. Ranked 67th globally, they surprised many by holding Spain to a 0-0 draw and drawing with both Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

Cape Verde’s Historic Performance

Argentina entered the match as the reigning World Cup champions, with Lionel Messi scoring his 20th World Cup goal at the 29th minute. Despite dominating possession, Argentina was shocked when Cape Verde equalized through Deroy Duarte, assisted by captain Ryan Mendes. Mendes faced controversy prior to the match, reportedly under investigation in New Zealand.

Goalkeeper Vozinha, at 40, played a crucial role in Cape Verde’s resistance, denying Messi in a one-on-one situation and making crucial saves to keep the score at 1-1. The match extended into extra time after Vozinha’s heroics continued.

Extra-Time Action

In extra time, Argentina went ahead with a goal from Lisandro Martinez. Cape Verde responded impressively with Sidny Lopes Cabral’s stunning right-footed shot that equalized, sending the crowd into frenzy. Eventually, Argentina won through an own goal from Diney Borges, deflected off Cristian Romero’s header.

The Reaction

An island of 525,000 against 46 million. A matchup of World Cup newcomers against seasoned champions. Could Cape Verde truly challenge Argentina?

Cape Verde, with unexpected talent and grit, indeed delivered a scare. The match posed questions about Argentina’s vulnerabilities. Would their performance suffice against stronger teams like France?

Highlight Reel

Among the World Cup’s many impressive goals, Sidny Cabral’s strike stands out. Cape Verde seemed outpaced until Cabral’s daring shot from the edge of the box found the net, leaving Argentina in disbelief.

Vozinha’s Defiant Saves

Vozinha’s performance was instrumental. His steady presence during the match kept Cape Verde in contention. Despite facing Messi’s relentless attack, he made several crucial saves, including a deflected Messi free kick.

Messi’s Pursuit of Records

Messi’s goal further extended his lead over Mbappe in the World Cup’s all-time scoring chart. Having scored 20 goals, he aims to break Just Fontaine’s single-tournament record of 13 goals, set in the 1958 World Cup. If Argentina progresses to the final, Messi will have four more opportunities to achieve this.

Argentina will face Egypt on July 7 in Atlanta for the round of 16, carrying insights from their challenging bout with Cape Verde.