Argentina edges Cape Verde in extra time thriller to reach World Cup quarterfinals

Defending champions Argentina secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over a heroic Cape Verde side in the Round of 16 of the Football World Cup. The dramatic match, held early Saturday morning in Miami, required extra time to determine a winner.

Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead early in the game, capitalizing on a pass from Lisandro Martínez. However, Cape Verde demonstrated remarkable resilience. Deroy Duarte leveled the score in the 59th minute with a low shot. The match remained tense, and after Lisandro Martínez scored Argentina's second goal from a corner in the second minute of the first extra-time period, Cape Verde once again fought back.

Jamiro Monteiro equalized for Cape Verde in the 103rd minute with a spectacular strike from the edge of the penalty area, finding the opposite corner of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez's net. The decisive moment came in the 111th minute when Cristian Romero's header from a Messi corner was deflected into the net by Cape Verde's Diney Borges for an own goal, ultimately handing Argentina the win.

With this victory, Argentina advances to the quarterfinals where they will face Egypt. Egypt secured their spot by defeating Australia in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after regular time and extra time.