Saturday, July 4Saturday, July 41 hour · 2 summary articles
Argentina survive last-16 scare as Cape Verde fall just short in Miami thriller
Cape Verde push Argentina to brink before falling 3-2 in extra time
Cape Verde’s World Cup fairytale ended in heartbreak on Friday night as the tiny island nation pushed reigning champions Argentina to the brink before falling 3-2 in extra time at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, leaving the Blue Sharks as the tournament’s most celebrated debutants.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Argentina in the 62nd minute, but Cape Verde fought back with Deroy Duarte equalising in the 78th before Sidny Lopes Cabral restored parity with a stunning 103rd-minute strike that sent the stadium into raptures. The Blue Sharks, ranked 64th in the world before the tournament, twice came from behind against the three-time world champions and held the lead until the 111th minute, when an own goal by Diney Borges sealed their dramatic exit.
The match was a microcosm of Cape Verde’s improbable journey. Prieto Fernandes, a 65-year-old fan who arrived in the United States 40 years ago when few knew his country, left the stadium wearing a replica shirt and a look of quiet pride. “Now, the whole world knows about Cabo Verde – that’s how you pronounce it, not Cape Verde,” he told Al Jazeera . “We do everything with a big heart and it’s there for everyone to see.”
Goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, became an overnight sensation with a string of breathtaking saves, including a one-on-one with Messi, and amassed over 20 million social media followers during the tournament. His wife, Elizabeth Fernandes, said simply: “I can’t describe how big this moment is.”
In Rotterdam, where five Cape Verde players were born and six others grew up, supporters gathered at the Maassilo to watch the match together. One fan told ESPN: “It was, in one word, amazing. I am so proud of everything. I have enjoyed the entire World Cup, also how everyone has come together globally” . Another praised Lopes Cabral’s goal as a candidate for the Puskás Award, describing it as “beautiful” and “impossible to save.”
Cape Verde’s World Cup debut coincided with the 50th anniversary of independence from Portugal, and their qualification last year was itself a historic milestone. They held European champions Spain to a goalless draw in their group opener, then battled Uruguay to a 2-2 draw, becoming the only team in World Cup history to avoid defeat in regulation time without winning a match.
Argentina, meanwhile, survived their sternest test of the tournament. Messi extended his World Cup goal tally to 20, but admitted the match was far tougher than expected. “It was difficult to score the first goal,” he said. “The opponent showed why they drew with Spain and Uruguay. They are a very disciplined team with weapons, playing with great intensity” .
As the Round of 16 begins, Cape Verde’s legacy is secure. In Praia, the capital, fans gathered for a public screening to celebrate their team’s achievement. “We became visible at last,” one supporter told NU.nl . “We are no longer unknown.”
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