Argentina were given a huge scare before ending Cape Verde’s fairytale run as Lionel Messi netted his 20th World Cup goal in a 3-2 win after extra-time to reach the last 16.
Messi’s sublime control and finish for his seventh goal at this tournament in four games put the defending champions in command, but the Blue Sharks doggedly refused to go away.
Deroy Duarte’s strike on the hour mark forced Argentina to expand more energy than they would have wanted in the sapping Miami heat.
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Lisandro Martinez briefly restored Argentina’s lead early in extra time before Sidny Lopes Cabral’s stunning shot rocketed into the top corner.
Another Argentina corner finally got the job done when Cristian Romero rose highest to head Messi’s corner, the ball going in after taking a deflection off Diney Borges for an own goal.
La Albiceleste will face Egypt next on Tuesday in Atlanta, but there were concerns for Lionel Scaloni on his 100th match in charge despite what appears a favourable draw.
MATCH CENTRE: Argentina vs Cape Verde stats
Cape Verde served warning of what they were capable of by holding European champions Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws in Group H to reach the knockout stages in their first World Cup appearance.
The Blue Sharks coach Bubista said the meeting with Messi and the world champions would be “the game of our lives” and it showed in a spirited display that had Argentina sweating for over 120 minutes.
On his return to the city where he now plays his club football for Inter Miami, Messi’s every move was greeted like a godby the nearly 65,000 crowd that was awash of sky blue and white jerseys.
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The 39-year-old produced a moment of magic with a feather-like touch from Lisandro Martinez’s pass toset up a high finish past Vozinha to open the scoring.
In doing so Messi also extended his own record of scoring in eight consecutive World Cup games and opened up a two-goal cushion once more over France’s Kylian Mbappe in the battle to be the competition’s all-time top goalscorer.
Emi Martinez had been a spectator in the first half, but the Aston Villa goalkeeper was forced into a smart save by Duarte as Cape Verde started the second period with more attacking intent.
Martinez was powerless for the equaliser moments later when Duarte was picked out by Ryan Mendes and rifled a low shot into the far corner.
Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha became an internet sensation after his man-of-the-match showing against Spain last month.
His nearly 18 million Instagram followers will have enjoyed him winning a one-on-one battle with Messi when the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner seemed certain to restore Argentina’s lead.
Irish-born Pico Lopes was next to be a Cape Verdean hero with a crucial intervention to deny Enzo Fernandez a tap-in after more inspiration from Messi created an opening.
Lisandro Martinez’s rising drive after a corner fell the Manchester United defender’s way two minutes into extra-time looked to have swung the momentum decisively in Argentina’s favour once more.
But again Cape Verde refused to bow and levelled with one of the goals of the tournament when Lopes Cabral smashed into the top corner.
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The full-back ran off into the stands to celebrate with his partner. Elsewhere around the crowd, the boisterous atmosphere that had accompanied most of the evening gave way to nervous tension as penalties approached.
Scaloni could only wipe his furrowed brow with relief when Messi’s corner was turned in for an own goal by the unfortunate Borges.
Yet an exhausted Argentina still had to ride their luck from a Cape Verde onslaught in the final seconds.
Emi Martinez this time won the battle with Lopes Cabral by tipping over another sweet strike that was headed for the top corner.
Argentina will face Egypt in the Round of 16 next week after Mohamed Salah’s men defeated Australia in Arlington.
WASTEFUL COLOMBIA SEE OFF TOOTHLESS GHANA
Wasteful Colombia saw off toothless Ghana 1-0 on Saturday AEST to become the final team to qualify for the World Cup last 16.
The South Americans dominated the game at Arrowhead Stadium but ended up with just Jhon Arias’s early goal to show for their superiority as they now look forward to a meeting with Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey fizzed a shot just wide in the opening minute but that proved a false dawn for the African nation.
Colombia were forced into an early change when Jhon Cordoba pulled up with an apparent groin injury and was replaced by Luis Suarez.
Minutes later Ghana were forced into a change of their own when Alidu Seidu came on for the stricken Marvin Senaya.
Colombia went ahead in the 14th minute after substitute Suarez showed persistence on the right flank and crossed for an unmarked Ariasto steer home.
That gave Carlos Queiroz’s goal-shy Black Stars, who scored just twice in the group phase, a major headache.
Colombia, roared on by a partisan crowd in Kansas City, continued to dominate, playing fluid, inventive football as they searched for a second goal.
Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz had a wonderful chance to double Colombia’s lead in the 39th minute but scuffed his shot wide.
Early in first-half stoppage time Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi produced a superb save from Johan Mojica’s downward header.
The half-time numbers made grim reading for Ghana — not a single shot on target and less than half of Colombia’s 319 completed passes — but they were still in the game.
Colombia made hard work of the second half, squandering a number of chances to finish off their opponents.
Diaz put the ball in the net but was flagged offside before striking another shot straight at Zigi.
As time ticked down, Juan Quintero flashed a powerful shot wide but one goal turned out to be enough against a side that failed to muster a single shot on target