Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in their World Cup last-32 match in Miami. The result sends Argentina into a meeting with Egypt in Atlanta, while Cape Verde exit after taking the game deep into extra time.
Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead in the 28th minute, but Cape Verde responded after the break through Deroy Duarte. Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina’s lead early in extra time, only for Sydney Lopes Cabral to equalise in the 102nd minute with a striking finish from the left side.
The decisive moment came in the 111th minute, when Cristian Romero’s header from a Messi corner was redirected in a crowded goalmouth involving Diney Borges and Vozinha. Cape Verde still created late pressure, forcing Emiliano Martínez into important saves before the final whistle.
For Argentina, the narrow escape raises questions about recovery and control, especially with Messi playing the full 120 minutes in humid conditions and only four days before the next match. For Cape Verde, whose squad is described as largely diaspora-based, the performance stands as a major statement even in defeat.
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