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Tough showdown on Tuesday
Defending champions Argentina were shaky before securing a place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup with a 3-2 extra-time victory over a surprise Cape Verde side to set up a fiery date with Egypt in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
The match, which was held on Friday evening, witnessed a thrilling battle between the reigning world champions and the top contenders for victory and a team that produced an amazing performance in its first appearance in the history of the World Cup.
Although Argentina controlled the match early on and dominated possession, it did not translate into real scoring chances as the first real chance came in the 15th minute when Lionel Messi found himself in an empty area on the left side of the penalty area following a pass from Thiago Almada, but his low, angled shot went wide of the right post.
The Argentinian striker had another chance from the free-kick, but goalkeeper Fossenia was alert (18th minute) before Argentina finally got their goal just after the break when Lionel Messi turned Lisandro Martinez’s through ball on the right side of the box past Danny Borges and past Fossenia (29th minute).
Messi’s seventh goal of the tournament gave Argentina some relief as the Tango team, relaxed and content with their progress, did not need any attacking pressure. Before the end of the first half, Enzo Fernandez tried to shoot from the edge of the penalty area, but Fosinha pushed his ball to the right side of the goal (minute 45).
Argentina eased the pressure in the second half, allowing Cape Verde to take advantage as the Blue Sharks had chances, such as Dero Duarte’s shot from the edge of the box that was too close to goal (54th minute).
The surprise came in the 59th minute when Cape Verde’s number 14 hit a perfect low shot past Emiliano Martinez on the left side of the goal after Ryan Mendes’ pass on the right side of the penalty area (1-1).
Argentina tried to regain the lead, but Lionel Messi wasted a one-on-one chance with Fosinha (63rd minute) and the Cape Verdean keeper did well to deflect Messi’s free-kick wide of the right post (73rd minute).
Argentina pressed and Roberto López headed Nahuel Molina’s cross over Enzo Fernandez for a corner (81 min) and chances continued in the Cape Verde penalty area, but the Blue Sharks resisted and Fosinha even made a brilliant save from a free-kick (5 min, 2-90). additional time.
It didn’t take long for Argentina to regain the lead. From a corner kick from the left wing, Lionel Messi passed the ball to Alexis McAllister who headed it in. On the right edge of the penalty area, Lisandro Martinez hit a curling ball into the top left corner (92nd minute).
But Cape Verde did not lose hope. After Jamiro Montero’s pass from the left edge of the penalty area, Sydney Cabral fired a superb ball into the top right corner of Emiliano Martinez’s goal (103rd minute).
In the second half of extra time, Argentina struggled to regain the lead from a corner that Cristian Romero headed into the net (111th minute) and Cape Verde kept the pressure on until the end, especially with Sidney Cabral’s dangerous free-kick saved by the goalkeeper (116th minute).
The hard-fought 3-2 win sets Argentina up to face Egypt, who scored a historic penalty shoot-out win over Australia (1-1, 4-2), in a fiery clash that pits the world champions against the Pharaohs in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.
