Argentina end Cape Verde's remarkable run in extra time thriller

Buoyed by the occasion, Cape Verde - the lowest-ranked side to reach the knockout stages on their WC debut - started with no fear, and Ryan Mendes’ shot deflected into Emiliano Martinez’s path. Argentina soon took control, though, with Lionel Messi scuffing a shot wide before striking a free-kick straight into Vozinha’s arms.

Messi would not be denied for long, putting the world champions in front just before the half-hour mark as he expertly controlled Lisandro Martínez’s lobbed diagonal pass before poking into the roof of the net to put himself ahead in the Golden Boot race with his seventh goal of the tournament. 

Lionel Scaloni’s men threatened to score again before HT through Enzo Fernandez’s first-time curler from the edge of the box, which was pushed away by Vozinha, but Cape Verde survived with just a one-goal deficit heading into the second half.

The break came at a good time for the Blue Sharks, who looked more lively after the restart, with Deroy Duarte forcing Emi Martínez into his first meaningful action of the game, as his shot from outside the area was smartly stopped by the goalkeeper.

Then, just before the hour mark, Cape Verde shocked the world again with the equaliser they were threatening.

Mendes played through Duarte, and this time he made no mistake from a tight angle, rifling into the bottom corner to score the Blue Sharks’ first-ever WC knockout goal.

Messi almost put Argentina back in front immediately when he was through on goal, but this time Vozinha brought out his early-tournament heroics to deny him from close range. The veteran goalkeeper then produced an even better save to claw Messi’s clever free-kick away from the top corner, as the contest remained level heading into the second hydration break.

Upon the resumption, hearts were in mouths when Pico Lopes almost diverted Nahuel Molina’s dangerous cross into his own net, as he watched the ball flash just past the post. 

Argentina struggled to create good chances to secure the win late on, and as a result, Cape Verde remarkably forced ET. However, it took just a couple of minutes for their hearts to be broken, as a corner found its way to Lisandro Martinez at the back post, and after assisting Argentina’s first goal, he struck into the top corner to spare his team’s blushes.

There was only a brief relief, as Cape Verde equalised again with a stunning strike from Sidny Lopes Cabral, arguably scoring the goal of the tournament by curling into the top corner from an acute angle. 

Messi did his best to dampen the mood with a strike of his own towards goal, but Vozinha managed to parry away as the Blue Sharks went into the second half of ET level.

Cape Verde ultimately didn’t get their fairytale ending, though, as Argentina went in front for a third time, with their other centre-back Cristian Romero getting his head to a Messi corner that took a slight deflection off Diney Borges on its way into the net.

The Blue Sharks simply would not give up, and Lopes Cabral showed that his goal was not a fluke as he struck a powerful free-kick towards goal, only for Emi Martinez to palm it away.

La Seleccion advance to the Round of 16, where they’ll face Egypt, while Cape Verde exit with their first defeat of the tournament, but doing their nation proud.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Lisandro Martinez (Argentina)