Argentina survive Cape Verde scare to reach World Cup last 16

Argentina were given a huge scare before ending Cape Verde's fairytale run as Lionel Messi netted his 20th World Cup goal in a 3-2 win after extra-time to reach the last 16.

Messi's sublime control and finish for his seventh goal at this tournament in four games put the defending champions in command, but the Blue Sharks doggedly refused to go away.

Deroy Duarte's strike on the hour mark forced Argentina to expand more energy than they would have wanted in the sapping Miami heat.

Lisandro Martinez briefly restored Argentina's lead early in extra time before Sidny Lopes Cabral's stunning shot rocketed into the top corner.

Another Argentina corner finally got the job done when Cristian Romero rose highest to head Messi's corner, the ball going in off a deflection from Diney Borges for an own goal.

La Albiceleste will face Egypt on Tuesday in Atlanta, but there were concerns for Lionel Scaloni on his 100th match in charge despite what appears a favourable draw.

Scaloni said it "would have been madness" to lose to the underdogs.

"A very tough match; you always have to take the positives—this team (Argentina) never gives up," he said.

"We have to congratulate the opponent. When people say there are no easy opponents, they proved today that they are a great team," he added.

"We finished very tired... they gave it their all."

Cape Verde had served warning of what they were capable of by holding European champions Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws in Group H to reach the knockout stages in their first World Cup appearance.

The Blue Sharks coach Bubista said the meeting with the world champions would be "the game of our lives" and it showed in a spirited display that had Argentina sweating.

On his return to the city where he plays his club football for Inter Miami, Messi's every move was greeted like a god by the nearly 65,000 crowd, mainly in Argentina shirts.

- Moments of magic -

The 39-year-old produced a moment of magic with a feather-like touch from Lisandro Martinez's pass to set up a high finish past Vozinha to open the scoring.

In doing so Messi also extended his own record of scoring in eight consecutive World Cup games and opened up a two-goal cushion once more over France's Kylian Mbappe in the battle to be the competition's all-time top goalscorer.

Emi Martinez had been a spectator in the first half, but the Aston Villa goalkeeper was forced into a smart save by Duarte as Cape Verde started the second period with more attacking intent.

Martinez was powerless for the equaliser moments later when Duarte was picked out by Ryan Mendes and rifled a low shot into the far corner.

Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha became an internet sensation after his man-of-the-match showing against Spain last month.

His nearly 18 million Instagram followers will have enjoyed him winning a one-on-one battle with Messi when the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner seemed certain to restore Argentina's lead.

Irish-born Pico Lopes was next to be a Cape Verdean hero with a crucial intervention to deny Enzo Fernandez a tap-in after more inspiration from Messi created an opening.

Lisandro Martinez's rising drive after a corner fell the Manchester United defender's way two minutes into extra-time looked to have swung the momentum decisively in Argentina's favour once more.

But again Cape Verde refused to bow and levelled with one of the goals of the tournament when Lopes Cabral smashed into the top corner.

The full-back ran off into the stands to celebrate with his partner.

Elsewhere around the crowd, the boisterous atmosphere that had accompanied most of the evening gave way to nervous tension as penalties approached.

Scaloni could only wipe his furrowed brow with relief when Messi's corner was turned in for an own goal by the unfortunate Borges.

Yet an exhausted Argentina still had to ride their luck from a Cape Verde onslaught in the final seconds.

Emi Martinez this time won the battle with Lopes Cabral by tipping over another sweet strike that was headed for the top corner.

'Big hearts'

Cape Verde are an example for other small nations to follow, said defender Pico Lopes, after the islanders came close to pulling off one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history against Argentina on Friday.

Defending champions Argentina needed a Diney Borges own goal in the 111th minute to win a thrilling last-32 tie after strength-sapping extra-time in Miami.

A tiny archipelago of just over 500,000 people off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde held Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws on their first ever appearance at the World Cup.

"What we achieved, we wanted to show what was possible for small nations. With big hearts, that you can believe, and dream anything is possible," Irish-born Lopes told reporters.

"I hope this team here now has inspired some young Cape Verdeans to be here next. We show what's possible. We show what you can do when you get to this stage and meet some of the best teams in the world."

Goalkeeper Vozinha became one of the stars of the World Cup after his man-of-the-match performance against Spain in the Blue Sharks' opening game.

The 40-year-old's social media followers exploded from around 50,000 to over 19 million during the tournament.

"The World Cup means a lot to us, because it is something we have wanted for a long time. We qualified and realised the dream, not just for me or the national team, but for the entire people of Cape Verde," said Vozinha, who is currently without a club.

"We are very proud of everything we have achieved. Obviously, we are disappointed with the result because we wanted to advance to the next round.

"We knew we were facing a very tough opponent -- the world champions -- but I want to acknowledge the entire federation and the whole team," he added.

"My teammates were fantastic, they were incredible. We went out with our heads held high."

Argentina had cruised through the group stages and another Messi-inspired victory seemed on the cards when he opened the scoring in style with his 20th goal in World Cups.

But Cape Verde refused to lie down, twice hauling themselves back onto level pegging.

Deroy Duarte's strike on the hour mark forced the game into extra-time.

Even when Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina's lead, a stunning strike from Sidny Lopes Cabral's had them dreaming again before Borges turned into his own net under pressure from Cristian Romero.

Lopes has also become a hero back in Ireland, where he plays for Shamrock Rovers.

Son of an Irish mother and Cape Verdean father, the 34-year-old was recruited to play for the Blue Sharks via networking site LinkedIn.

And he said they had put Cape Verde on the map over the past few weeks.

"When we qualified for the World Cup, we wanted to go and show that we belong here. I think our performances over the group stage and tonight, we showed that we can compete with some of the best teams in the world," he added.

"One of the pleasing things that has come out of this World Cup is that nobody has to ask what Cape Verde is.

"They know where we are on the map. They know what we're like as a team. I think all Cape Verdeans around the world who are inspired to be footballers, we've shown the way today."