Argentina qualified for the World Cup, specifically to the round of 16, after a hard-fought marathon match against Cape Verde that ended 3-2 after extra time, with the world champion narrowly escaping the round of 32.
The match featured exciting twists that took everyone’s breath away, proving that the path to defending the title will not be a bed of roses.
The game saw a remarkable performance from captain Lionel Messi, who opened the scoring for Argentina in the 29th minute and also assisted two other goals, leaving a clear mark on the match outcome.
However, the joy of taking the lead didn’t last long, as player Dervy Duarte equalized for Cape Verde in the 59th minute, bringing the game back to square one and adding more excitement.
The ninety minutes did not settle the tie, leading to extra time filled with rising drama; Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s lead in the 93rd minute, but Sydney Cabral quickly responded with a surprising equalizer for Cape Verde in the 103rd minute, making the score 2-2.
The decisive moment came unexpectedly in the 111th minute when defender Dini Edelson scored an own goal, granting Argentina the precious qualification ticket.
With this tough win, Argentina set a date with the Egyptian team in the round of 16 on July 7. The Egyptian team had previously secured their qualification earlier today, Friday, after winning against Australia in a penalty shootout following their 1-1 draw, making this anticipated face-off the focus of football fans worldwide.
