Argentina advance to the World Cup last 16 after beating tournament debutants Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time in Miami. All sources describe a closely contested match in which Cape Verde repeatedly level the score and challenge Argentina’s composure. Argentina are noted as the reigning champions, but they face growing questions after being pushed to the brink by an opponent making its tournament debut.
The decisive moment comes in stoppage time of extra time, when defender Cristian Romero scores a header from a deflected delivery, giving Argentina the lead that proves to be the winner. BBC and other reports characterize the contest as an “extra-time thriller,” while the Cyprus Mail and Buenos Aires Times emphasize Cape Verde’s ability to recover from setbacks and expose weaknesses in Argentina’s play.
With the win, Argentina reach the knockout stage, though the match leaves uncertainty about how they will perform under pressure given the scares they faced throughout the game.
