MIAMI, JUL 4: Argentina required extra-time to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in their Round of 32 match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Miami on Friday. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, getting to a long ball from Lisandro Martinez and smashing the roof of the net past Vozinha.
The game turned on its head in the 59th minute when Deroy Duarte nutmegged Lisandro from the right side of the box and scored Cape Verde’s first-ever knockouts goal.
With the score locked at 1-1 after regulation time, Argentina thought it had the winner in first half of extra-time. Lisandro was involved again as he got onto a rebound off a corner and hit the top right corner.
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But Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a stunning curler from the edge of the box and hit the top right corner to restore parity.
It was finally off a late corner that Argentina got the winning goal. Messi delivered the cross and Christian Romero’s header was deflected at the goal by Diney Borges.
Argentina vs Cape Verde Player Ratings:
Argentina:
Martínez (6.1), Molina (6.2), Romero (7.7), Martínez (8.6), Medina (7.0), De Paul (6.9), Mac Allister (7.7), Fernández (7.9), Almada (6.5), Messi (8.3), Martínez (6.0)
Subs: González (7.1), Álvarez (6.5), Paredes (6.6), Tagliafico (6.8), Montiel (6.0)
Cape Verde:
da Costa (6.2), Cabral (6.6), Duarte (7.4), Duarte (6.2), Mendes (6.8), Pina (7.2), Cabral (7.4), Borges (5.5), Lopes (6.1), Moreira (6.0), Vozinha (7.3)
Subs: Monteiro (6.1), Livramento (5.9), Varela (6.7), Semedo (5.5), Semedo (7.5), Benchimol (6.1)
