A dramatic night in Miami
Argentina and Cape Verde produced a pulsating encounter at Hard Rock Stadium, with the visitors forcing the match into extra time before a decisive own goal handed the South Americans a 3‑2 victory.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, curling a precise finish past the Cape Verdean keeper. The lead was short‑lived, however, as Deroy Duarte’s well‑placed strike restored parity just before the half‑hour mark.
The deadlock was broken again in the 103rd minute when Sidny Cabral’s header found the net, only for Cristian Romero’s subsequent header to set up an own goal by Diney Borges in the 111th minute, sealing Argentina’s progression.
What the win means
With the triumph, Argentina will now meet Egypt in the round of 16, a fixture that promises another test of their resilience after a tournament that has already seen them navigate a group stage and a tense knockout round.
Coach Lionel Scaloni praised his squad’s character, highlighting the depth of talent that includes Lisandro Martinez, who contributed a crucial corner that led to the decisive goal.
The match also underscored the growing competitiveness of African teams in this edition of the World Cup, as Cape Verde’s spirited performance pushed the reigning champions to the brink.