Argentina Beats Cape Verde 3-2 to Reach World Cup Last 16
Defending champions Argentina survived a major scare in Miami Gardens on Friday, narrowly overcoming a resilient Cape Verde side 3-2 after extra time to punch their ticket to the 2026 World Cup round of 16.
Cape Verde Pushes the Champs to the Limit
In what was expected to be a routine victory for the South American giants, tournament debutants Cape Verde delivered a spirited performance that nearly resulted in the upset of the century. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, calming Argentine nerves and giving his side a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
However, the African side refused to be intimidated by the reigning champions. Deroy Duarte stunned the crowd in the 59th minute, finding the back of the net to equalize and force a tense final half-hour of regulation. With neither side able to find a winner in the remaining minutes, the match headed into a grueling period of extra time.
Argentina Finds the Edge in Extra Time
Argentina regained the lead almost immediately after the restart when Lisandro Martínez struck in the 92nd minute. Yet again, Cape Verde responded; Sidny Lopes Cabral scored in the 103rd minute to bring the score to 2-2, sending the stadium into a frenzy.
The deadlock was finally broken for good in the 111th minute when defender Cristian Romero stepped up to score the decisive goal, ending Cape Verde’s heroic resistance and ensuring Argentina’s title defense remains alive.
Eyes on the Round of 16
Having survived the challenge in Miami, Argentina now turns its attention to the knockout stage. They are scheduled to face Egypt in the round of 16 this Tuesday. The clash will take place in Atlanta, with kickoff set for 12:00 local time (17:00 in Lisbon).
Image: Pexels – Walter Medina Foto
