CORNERFLICK
Argentina edged Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in a chaotic World Cup knockout tie in Miami, with the holders forced to dig deep after twice being pegged back.
Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead in the 29th minute with a fine finish from a tight angle, but Cape Verde stayed brave and levelled through Duarte in the 59th minute after a move down the right.
Messi had a one-on-one saved shortly after the equaliser, while Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha also denied him with a strong save from a free-kick in the second half. Argentina thought they might have a late penalty when a right-wing cross struck a Cape Verde defender's hand in the 90th minute, but the referee and VAR waved play on.
Extra time settled it. Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina's lead in the second minute of the first period, only for Lopez to score a superb long-range equaliser in the 103rd minute. Argentina then found the winner to complete a hard-fought passage into the last 16.