Argentina 3-2 Cabo Verde (AET): Messi and Romero Survive an Almighty World Cup Scare
Reigning champions Argentina were pushed to the very limit before edging Cabo Verde 3-2 after extra time in a breathless Round of 32 tie in Miami. Lionel Messi opened the scoring and Cristian Romero eventually settled it, but the tiny island nation of just over half a million people came back from behind twice and looked every bit Argentina’s equals before falling agonisingly short.
How the Match Unfolded
Messi put the favourites ahead in the first half, and for a while it looked as though Argentina would ease through. But Cabo Verde had other ideas. Deroy Duarte hauled the Blue Sharks level to force the tie into extra time, stunning a Miami crowd that had expected a comfortable evening for the world champions.
Argentina thought they had regained control when Lisandro Martinez struck just two minutes into extra time to restore the lead. Cabo Verde refused to buckle. In the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral produced the moment of the match, unleashing a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-2 and set up a grandstand finish.
The decisive blow came from a Messi corner. Cristian Romero rose to meet it, and his header deflected off Diney Borges on its way in, handing Argentina a 3-2 lead they would not surrender. Lionel Scaloni’s men clung on to reach the Round of 16, but they were made to earn every inch of it.
By the Numbers
The scoreline captured a genuine World Cup classic that swung one way and then the other:
| Statistic | Argentina | Cabo Verde |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score (AET) | 3 | 2 |
| Goalscorers | Messi, L. Martinez, Romero | Duarte, Lopes Cabral |
| Times Trailing | 0 | 2 (recovered both) |
| Result after 90 mins | 1-1 (extra time required) | |
Cabo Verde twice recovered a deficit against the world champions, a remarkable feat for a debutant nation, before Romero’s slightly fortunate winner finally broke their resistance.
Key Talking Points
For all Argentina’s star quality, this was a night that exposed a vulnerability that better-organised opponents will note. Messi again delivered when it mattered, both with his goal and the corner that led to the winner, extending his remarkable World Cup history, but Scaloni will be concerned by how easily his side surrendered their lead not once but twice.
The story of the night, though, belongs to Cabo Verde. A nation of just over half a million people went toe to toe with the champions and came within touching distance of one of the greatest upsets the competition has ever seen. They leave the tournament with immense pride and a performance that announced them on the world stage.
What’s Next
Argentina march on to the Round of 16, where they will face Egypt, who knocked out Australia on penalties. The Pharaohs will arrive full of confidence after their own dramatic shootout victory, and Scaloni’s side will need to be far more clinical and defensively secure if they are to avoid another nervy afternoon. The champions remain in the hunt for back-to-back titles, but on this evidence, they are far from untouchable.
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