"We knew how to suffer and pull it off": Messi after Argentina seal R16 spot following win over Cabo Verde
Miami, July 4
Following his side's qualification for the FIFA World Cup round of 16 after a hard-fought win over debutants Cabo Verde, the Argentina superstar Lionel Messi took to social media to express his happiness, saying that the team knew it was going to be difficult, but "they knew how to suffer and pull it off".
Messi-led Argentina were given a scare of a lifetime as a Vozinha powered Cabo Verde had answer for the defending champions' attack, with the goalie producing save after save. Despite Lisanrdo Martinez's equaliser, a stunner from Sidny Lopes kept the game alive untill an own goal shattered the debutants' dreams of defeating the current champions. Cabo Verde's performance, nonetheless, met acclaim from fans and even from the opposition.
Posting on Instagram, Messi said, "We knew it was going to be difficult, but we knew how to suffer and pull it off. We keep going."
Coming to the match, Cabo Verde, making their first appearance in the World Cup knockout stages, started brightly and tested Argentina early through Ryan Mendes before the South American giants gradually asserted control.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Lionel Messi produced a moment of brilliance, controlling Lisandro Martinez's diagonal pass before firing into the roof of the net. The strike marked his seventh goal of the tournament, taking him to the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Argentina looked comfortable before halftime, but Cabo Verde returned with renewed intensity after the break. Their persistence paid off just before the hour mark when Mendes released Deroy Duarte, who finished confidently from a tight angle to score his country's first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout-stage goal and level the contest.
Despite creating several chances, Argentina were repeatedly denied by veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, whose outstanding saves from Messi kept the scores level and forced the match into extra time.
Argentina restored their advantage almost immediately after extra time began as Lisandro Martinez converted from close range following a corner in the 92nd minute. Yet Cabo Verde refused to back down, with Sidny Lopes Cabral producing a stunning curling effort in the 103rd minute from a tight angle to make it 2-2 once again.
The decisive moment came in the second half of extra time when Messi's corner was met by Romero, whose powerful header took a slight deflection off Diney Borges before finding the back of the net in the 111th minute.
Cabo Verde nearly forced penalties late on, but Emiliano Martinez produced a vital save to deny Lopes Cabral's powerful free-kick and secure Argentina's progress.
— ANI
Reader Comments
So impressed by Cabo Verde. First knockout stage and they nearly took down the champions? That's not just courage, that's skill! Their goalkeeper deserves a medal. Meanwhile, Argentina showing why they're defending champions - never say die attitude!
Yeah but Argentina's defense looked shaky. Messi bailed them out again. Against a stronger team in the quarters, they might not be so lucky. Cabo Verde exposed some real weaknesses today. #WorldCup
This is why we love football! On one side you have the GOAT, and on the other a debutant nation giving it their all. That own goal was heartbreaking, but Cabo Verde won the hearts of neutrals worldwide. Kudos to both teams. 🙌
Messi in golden boot contention... he's just unstoppable! But I'm a bit concerned about Argentina's reliance on him. Without his genius distribution and that corner, they might have been going home. Scaloni needs to sort out the midfield balance. Just my two cents.
What a match! Extra time, dramatic equalizer, own goal heartbreak - everything a fan could ask for. Cabo Verde have announced themselves on the world stage. And Messi, what can you say? The man is a magician. Argentina know how to grind out results, like true champions do. 🏆
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