5-Goal Thriller: Argentina edge past Cape Verde

Argentina were pushed to the edge by Cape Verde but registered a 3-2 win in the round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup on Saturday.

Fixture: Argentina v Cape Verde
Score: 3-2
Goalscorers: Messi (29'), Martinez (92), Borges (OG 111') / Duarte (59'), Lopes (103')

Following a dominant showing in the group stages, the Albiceleste realized the threats of the debutants, who most certainly punched above their weight to finish ahead of two-time champions Uruguay in their group campaign.

The reigning champions were shown the first sight to goal ten minutes gone when captain Lionel Messi ran in at the near post to pull a turn of pace from a tight angle for a shot, but he steered well beyond the far corner.

Messi came good just past the hydration break where he popped up at the far post to bring down a long ball from the left by Lisandro Martinez and nestled in the roof of the net to record his 20th goal overall in the tournament’s history and seventh in this edition.

With no substitutions on either side before the resumption, the Albiceleste were made to sit deep earlier on and a low save at the near post by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was needed to court a rasping shot from outside the area by Deroy Duarte.

Second Half:

Argentina were pegged back in the opening 12 minutes of the second half after the self-same Duarte darted in to the right of the area to collect a layoff from Ryan Mendes and finished in the far corner from a tight angle.

This prompted the defending champions to amongst others alter their stall and introduced Nico Gonzalez ahead of Thiago Almada before Lautaro Martinez made way for the sought-after striker Julian Alvarez.

Argentina were inches away from restoring the lead just before the hydration break through a cheeky free-kick on the far side of the area by Messi after he managed to draw a foul, but goalkeeper Vozinha read it perfectly and so onto extra-time.

Argentina were back in front three minutes in when a flick on the near side of the six-yard box by Alexis Mac Allister following a corner-kick picked out Lisandro who controlled perfectly and finished in the top corner.

The Blue Sharks didn’t lose hope and kept fighting, which resulted in the equaliser once again when Yannick Semedo worked a delivery across the far side to Sidny Lopes Cabral to drop a shoulder and curled sumptuously into the far corner.

However, the three-time champions continued to show their quality and regained the lead early in the second half of extra-time when a pin-point corner by Messi found Cristian Romero, who jumped ahead of the defence to head in off Diney Borges.

The danger was still there for the Albiceleste as another curling strike from out wide by Cabral forced Martinez to keep a level-head and palmed over the top, sealing his side's spot in the round of 16.