Argentina survive Cape Verde scare in extra-time thriller to reach last 16

A deflected header from Cristian Romero deep into extra time spared Argentina’s blushes as they beat Cape Verde 3-2 in Miami, advancing to the World Cup last 16 after a match that saw the South American giants twice give up the lead. The Blue Sharks, whose fairytale run had captured the tournament’s imagination, pushed the Albiceleste to the brink on a frantic night in Florida. Cape Verde struck first, silencing the Argentine-heavy crowd, only for the holders to equalise. Then the underdogs went ahead again, forcing Lionel Messi and his teammates to dig deep against a side ranked more than 100 places below them. Argentina’s equaliser arrived with time running out in normal time, setting the stage for Romero’s decisive intervention. The Tottenham defender’s header took a crucial deflection, wrong-footing Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and sending Argentina through. For the Blue Sharks, it marked the end of a remarkable journey that had seen them overcome far more fancied opponents. But on the night, they came within minutes of one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Argentina will now prepare for the round of 16, knowing they escaped a huge scare against a team that refused to bow to reputation.