By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Creidt: FIFA.
The defending champions Argentina earned a hectic, uninspiring 3-2 win over Cabo Verde in extra time in the round of 32 in Miami on Friday.
Argentina put forth a lackluster, complacent performance where they seemed content with their 1-0 lead off a goal from Lionel Messi in the first half, only to see the Cinderellas of the World Cup equalize just before the mark on a narrow effort from Deroy Duarte.
Messi scored seven goals in Qatar, a tally he has already matched in North America as he continues to bend the tournament to his will and break records at 39.
Miami had become a temporary province of Argentina as the sea of blue-white shirts bounced up and down as one, while a proud pocket of Cape Verde fans in dark blue held their corner.
The noise belonged to one nation but the occasion belonged to one man as Messi scooped up another Man of the Match trophy.
Two minutes into extra time in Miami, defender Lisandro Martinez latched on to Alexis Mac Allister’s flick from a corner and produced a powerful finish to beat goalkeeper Josimar Vozinha.
Sidny Cabral scored Cape Verde’s second equaliser with a stunning curling effort from the edge of the box in the 103rd minute.
Cristian Romero’s header from Messi’s corner in the 111th minute was deflected in off Diney Borges for an own goal to give Argentina the win.
“I have to give credit to our opponents,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “The truth is, when people say there’s no such thing as an easy opponent, today (Cape Verde) proved they’re a great team.”
Even in defeat, the performance by Cape Verde — a tiny island nation off the western coast of Africa — will stand as one of the most remarkable stories of this, or any, World Cup.
“We dignify what our country is. We drew twice against the world champions, we took it to extra time,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said. “More than anything, it’s being proud of our players who were dignified in the World Cup. We showed our identity.”
Argentina will now face Egypt in the round of 16 after they advanced past Australia on penalties, while Colombia will take on Switzerland.
Jhon Arias scored the only goal as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 in sweltering conditions in Kansas City on Friday, continuing a quietly impressive campaign that has established them as dangerous outsiders.