Argentina needed an extra-time own goal to overcome a Cape Verde side which showed great resilience 3-2 in an exhilarating contest today and clinch their spot in the last 16 of the World Cup.
The Africans, playing in their first World Cup, had twice come from a goal down to silence the vast majority of the crowd of 64,478 in a hot and humid Miami Stadium.
Reuters said that six minutes into the second period of extra time, Lionel Messi swung a corner into the box and Cristian Romero rose to head home off the arm of Cape Verde centre back Diney Borges and set up a date with Egypt in Atlanta next Tuesday.
Messi had given Argentina the lead in the 29th minute with his seventh goal of the tournament but Deroy Duarte equalised just before the hour mark.
The Blue Sharks held on to send the match into an additional half hour before Lisandro Martinez struck into the roof of the net in the second minute of the first period of extra time to put Argentina ahead again.
Cape Verde were not done yet. Reuters said that left back Sidny Lopes Cabral curled a beautiful shot into the top corner of the net in the 103rd minute of the contest to put the scores back on level terms at 2-2.
Messi aside, Reuters said that Argentina were largely bereft of ideas against a solid defence and Cape Verde libero Kevin Pina was the most impressive player on the field for long periods of the contest.
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