MIAMI GARDENS, Florida – A dramatic Round of 32 World Cup clash between defending champion Argentina and debutant Cape Verde finished regulation time deadlocked at 1-1 on Friday, forcing the two sides into 30 minutes of additional play to determine who will advance to the tournament’s next stage.
The match lived up to its underdog billing from the opening whistle, with Argentine talisman Lionel Messi breaking the deadlock in the 29th minute to extend his unprecedented World Cup scoring record. The goal marked Messi’s 20th career World Cup strike, further cementing his status as the competition’s all-time leading top scorer and putting the two-time world champions firmly in control of the fixture.
But Cape Verde, making their historic first knockout-stage appearance at a men’s World Cup, responded defiantly just before the hour mark. Midfielder Deroy Duarte netted a breathtaking equalizer that silenced the heavily pro-Argentine crowd packing South Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium. The goal, Duarte’s first ever at the senior international level, set the stage for what would go down as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history if the African underdogs can hold on to secure victory in extra time.
Regulation time ended with no further goals from either side, triggering the 30-minute extra time period split into two 15-minute halves. Should the scoreline remain level after extra time, the two nations will face a penalty shootout to claim a spot in the World Cup Round of 16.
Cape Verde’s run at this year’s tournament has already defied all pre-tournament expectations. The tiny island nation, located roughly 350 miles off the western coast of Africa, has turned heads from the group stage onward, becoming the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup knockout round. Under the leadership of veteran 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, Cape Verde secured three shock draws in group play against European powerhouse Spain, South American side Uruguay, and Asian contender Saudi Arabia to advance, a result that almost no analyst outside of the country predicted.
Vozinha continued his elite form against Argentina on Friday, racking up seven total saves, four of which came against Messi, and has now conceded just three goals across the entire tournament to date.