Argentina narrowly avoided a shocking upset in the World Cup knockout stage, securing a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde after extra time on Friday in Miami Gardens. The match was a tense affair, with the African debutants pushing the reigning champions to their limits.

Late Drama Seals Victory

The decisive moment came in the 111th minute when Cristian Romero scored the winner, heading in a corner from Lionel Messi that deflected off Diney Borges. This late goal was crucial as Cape Verde had already equalized twice, including once during extra time, threatening to create one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

Messi opened the scoring with a well-taken goal in the first half, marking his seventh goal of the tournament. However, Cape Verde's Deroy Duarte responded in the second half, silencing the Argentine supporters in the stadium. After 90 minutes, the score was tied at 1-1, but Argentina's Lisandro Martínez managed to put his team ahead early in extra time, only for Sidny Cabral to equalize with a stunning curling shot into the top corner.

Defensive Resilience from Cape Verde

Despite their lower FIFA ranking, Cape Verde showcased remarkable organization and resilience throughout the match. Their goalkeeper, Vozinha, delivered an outstanding performance, making eight crucial saves that extended the match into extra time. Argentina struggled to break through Cape Verde's defense, highlighting the challenge posed by the underdogs.

Argentina's manager, Lionel Scaloni, had warned his players not to underestimate Cape Verde, emphasizing their strong defensive capabilities. His concerns were validated as the match unfolded, proving that no game in the World Cup knockout rounds can be taken lightly.

Ultimately, Argentina's late goal allowed them to advance to the round of 16, but the match served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the tournament. A loss would have marked one of the largest upsets in World Cup history based on FIFA rankings, but the reigning champions managed to escape with a hard-fought victory.