by Craig Laycock
Original article:
Argentina 3 - 2 Cape Verde
Messi (29'), Martinez (92' ET), Borges (111' ET OG) | Duarte (59'), Cabral (103' ET)
Argentina and Cape Verde played out what is surely the greatest World Cup game of all time, as the underdogs took the current world champions the distance, scoring one of the best goals in history.
A clinical touch and finish from Lionel Messi in his current home of Miami set Argentina on their way as they started in confident style, even if Cape Verde were not making it easy for them by denying space proactively and playing without fear.
The Argentinian scored for his 8th consecutive World Cup game after sprinting to break free of his defender, before a sublime left footed touch inside the box to control the ball followed by a deft laced finish past keeper Vozinha. Little did we know that wouldn’t be the headline of the night.
After a first half where Cape Verde looked for ways back into the match but couldn’t seem to find an opening, it was Deroy Duarte who committed the first act of heroism for Cape Verde, scoring his first international goal in the 59th minute.
Cape Verde had an overload, and after collecting a low cross into the box, Duarte hit it hard and low from a tight angle to beat the keeper and get them level.
After the game remained locked at 1-1, the evening still had plenty of incredible twists and turns as we went into what turned out to be a legendary period of extra time. Even now, right after the match, it’s clear that this is going to stay long in the memory as one of the all-time great World Cup games.
At the start of the first period of extra time, it looked like Argentina had won it. Lisandro Martinez latched onto a flick on from a corner, took a touch and beat Vozinha with an unstoppable shot to the near post that lashed into the roof of the net.
But somehow Cape Verde still looked the fresher side. No signs of weakness. No lack of energy. No psychological disadvantage. They pushed forwards in numbers and spent some time recycling the ball between a central area and out wide as Argentina camped on the edge of their box.
Then, one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time. With 103 minutes on the clock, left back Sidny Cabral collected the ball in the wide area, cut inside and fired the ball with precision accuracy, curling it around a defender and into the top corner with power. It was unsaveable. 2-2.
Vozinha then made a succession of great saves in the game to keep Cape Verde in the game once more, continuing his heroics in goal.
And with Cape Verde refusing to sit back and continuing to press Argentina, the South American side managed to get their noses ahead with a heartbreaking own goal. A whipped ball into the box was met by the head of Cristian Romero, whose header bounced off the hand of Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and went in.
With time running out, Cape Verde didn’t let up or stop believing and looked fitter than their South American opponents. But they couldn’t find the critical equaliser to get them back in it for a third time. If there were another 5 or 10 minutes of stoppages you wouldn’t have bet against it.
An incredible performance from Cape Verde, who took the champs all the way.
Argentina will play Egypt in the last 16. I don’t know if we’ll ever forget this game.
8 min read
Last 32: The best World Cup game of all time?
Worldies, drama, intrigue, passion. It had it all.
8 min read
Argentina 3 - 2 Cape Verde
Messi (29'), Martinez (92' ET), Borges (111' ET OG) | Duarte (59'), Cabral (103' ET)
Argentina and Cape Verde played out what is surely the greatest World Cup game of all time, as the underdogs took the current world champions the distance, scoring one of the best goals in history.
A clinical touch and finish from Lionel Messi in his current home of Miami set Argentina on their way as they started in confident style, even if Cape Verde were not making it easy for them by denying space proactively and playing without fear.
The Argentinian scored for his 8th consecutive World Cup game after sprinting to break free of his defender, before a sublime left footed touch inside the box to control the ball followed by a deft laced finish past keeper Vozinha. Little did we know that wouldn’t be the headline of the night.
After a first half where Cape Verde looked for ways back into the match but couldn’t seem to find an opening, it was Deroy Duarte who committed the first act of heroism for Cape Verde, scoring his first international goal in the 59th minute.
Cape Verde had an overload, and after collecting a low cross into the box, Duarte hit it hard and low from a tight angle to beat the keeper and get them level.
After the game remained locked at 1-1, the evening still had plenty of incredible twists and turns as we went into what turned out to be a legendary period of extra time. Even now, right after the match, it’s clear that this is going to stay long in the memory as one of the all-time great World Cup games.
At the start of the first period of extra time, it looked like Argentina had won it. Lisandro Martinez latched onto a flick on from a corner, took a touch and beat Vozinha with an unstoppable shot to the near post that lashed into the roof of the net.
But somehow Cape Verde still looked the fresher side. No signs of weakness. No lack of energy. No psychological disadvantage. They pushed forwards in numbers and spent some time recycling the ball between a central area and out wide as Argentina camped on the edge of their box.
Then, one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time. With 103 minutes on the clock, left back Sidny Cabral collected the ball in the wide area, cut inside and fired the ball with precision accuracy, curling it around a defender and into the top corner with power. It was unsaveable. 2-2.
Vozinha then made a succession of great saves in the game to keep Cape Verde in the game once more, continuing his heroics in goal.
And with Cape Verde refusing to sit back and continuing to press Argentina, the South American side managed to get their noses ahead with a heartbreaking own goal. A whipped ball into the box was met by the head of Cristian Romero, whose header bounced off the hand of Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and went in.
With time running out, Cape Verde didn’t let up or stop believing and looked fitter than their South American opponents. But they couldn’t find the critical equaliser to get them back in it for a third time. If there were another 5 or 10 minutes of stoppages you wouldn’t have bet against it.
An incredible performance from Cape Verde, who took the champs all the way.
Argentina will play Egypt in the last 16. I don’t know if we’ll ever forget this game.
Last 32: The best World Cup game of all time?
Worldies, drama, intrigue, passion. It had it all.
Original article:
Argentina 3 - 2 Cape Verde
Messi (29'), Martinez (92' ET), Borges (111' ET OG) | Duarte (59'), Cabral (103' ET)
Argentina and Cape Verde played out what is surely the greatest World Cup game of all time, as the underdogs took the current world champions the distance, scoring one of the best goals in history.
A clinical touch and finish from Lionel Messi in his current home of Miami set Argentina on their way as they started in confident style, even if Cape Verde were not making it easy for them by denying space proactively and playing without fear.
The Argentinian scored for his 8th consecutive World Cup game after sprinting to break free of his defender, before a sublime left footed touch inside the box to control the ball followed by a deft laced finish past keeper Vozinha. Little did we know that wouldn’t be the headline of the night.
After a first half where Cape Verde looked for ways back into the match but couldn’t seem to find an opening, it was Deroy Duarte who committed the first act of heroism for Cape Verde, scoring his first international goal in the 59th minute.
Cape Verde had an overload, and after collecting a low cross into the box, Duarte hit it hard and low from a tight angle to beat the keeper and get them level.
After the game remained locked at 1-1, the evening still had plenty of incredible twists and turns as we went into what turned out to be a legendary period of extra time. Even now, right after the match, it’s clear that this is going to stay long in the memory as one of the all-time great World Cup games.
At the start of the first period of extra time, it looked like Argentina had won it. Lisandro Martinez latched onto a flick on from a corner, took a touch and beat Vozinha with an unstoppable shot to the near post that lashed into the roof of the net.
But somehow Cape Verde still looked the fresher side. No signs of weakness. No lack of energy. No psychological disadvantage. They pushed forwards in numbers and spent some time recycling the ball between a central area and out wide as Argentina camped on the edge of their box.
Then, one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time. With 103 minutes on the clock, left back Sidny Cabral collected the ball in the wide area, cut inside and fired the ball with precision accuracy, curling it around a defender and into the top corner with power. It was unsaveable. 2-2.
Vozinha then made a succession of great saves in the game to keep Cape Verde in the game once more, continuing his heroics in goal.
And with Cape Verde refusing to sit back and continuing to press Argentina, the South American side managed to get their noses ahead with a heartbreaking own goal. A whipped ball into the box was met by the head of Cristian Romero, whose header bounced off the hand of Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and went in.
With time running out, Cape Verde didn’t let up or stop believing and looked fitter than their South American opponents. But they couldn’t find the critical equaliser to get them back in it for a third time. If there were another 5 or 10 minutes of stoppages you wouldn’t have bet against it.
An incredible performance from Cape Verde, who took the champs all the way.
Argentina will play Egypt in the last 16. I don’t know if we’ll ever forget this game.
8 min read
Last 32: The best World Cup game of all time?
Worldies, drama, intrigue, passion. It had it all.
Argentina 3 - 2 Cape Verde
Messi (29'), Martinez (92' ET), Borges (111' ET OG) | Duarte (59'), Cabral (103' ET)
Argentina and Cape Verde played out what is surely the greatest World Cup game of all time, as the underdogs took the current world champions the distance, scoring one of the best goals in history.
A clinical touch and finish from Lionel Messi in his current home of Miami set Argentina on their way as they started in confident style, even if Cape Verde were not making it easy for them by denying space proactively and playing without fear.
The Argentinian scored for his 8th consecutive World Cup game after sprinting to break free of his defender, before a sublime left footed touch inside the box to control the ball followed by a deft laced finish past keeper Vozinha. Little did we know that wouldn’t be the headline of the night.
After a first half where Cape Verde looked for ways back into the match but couldn’t seem to find an opening, it was Deroy Duarte who committed the first act of heroism for Cape Verde, scoring his first international goal in the 59th minute.
Cape Verde had an overload, and after collecting a low cross into the box, Duarte hit it hard and low from a tight angle to beat the keeper and get them level.
After the game remained locked at 1-1, the evening still had plenty of incredible twists and turns as we went into what turned out to be a legendary period of extra time. Even now, right after the match, it’s clear that this is going to stay long in the memory as one of the all-time great World Cup games.
At the start of the first period of extra time, it looked like Argentina had won it. Lisandro Martinez latched onto a flick on from a corner, took a touch and beat Vozinha with an unstoppable shot to the near post that lashed into the roof of the net.
But somehow Cape Verde still looked the fresher side. No signs of weakness. No lack of energy. No psychological disadvantage. They pushed forwards in numbers and spent some time recycling the ball between a central area and out wide as Argentina camped on the edge of their box.
Then, one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time. With 103 minutes on the clock, left back Sidny Cabral collected the ball in the wide area, cut inside and fired the ball with precision accuracy, curling it around a defender and into the top corner with power. It was unsaveable. 2-2.
Vozinha then made a succession of great saves in the game to keep Cape Verde in the game once more, continuing his heroics in goal.
And with Cape Verde refusing to sit back and continuing to press Argentina, the South American side managed to get their noses ahead with a heartbreaking own goal. A whipped ball into the box was met by the head of Cristian Romero, whose header bounced off the hand of Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and went in.
With time running out, Cape Verde didn’t let up or stop believing and looked fitter than their South American opponents. But they couldn’t find the critical equaliser to get them back in it for a third time. If there were another 5 or 10 minutes of stoppages you wouldn’t have bet against it.
An incredible performance from Cape Verde, who took the champs all the way.
Argentina will play Egypt in the last 16. I don’t know if we’ll ever forget this game.
8 min read