Argentina superstar Lionel Messi consoles the Cape Verde players after their World Cup knockout clash.
Holders Argentina survived a monumental scare before defeating Cape Verde 3-2 in an all-time FIFA World Cup classic on Friday, as Egypt edged out Australia to secure their place in the round of 16.
Cape Verde, a nation with a population of just over 500,000, rocked Lionel Messi's Argentina with two stunning equalisers to raise the genuine prospect of pulling off the greatest upset in World Cup history at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. However, a cruel Diney Borges own goal, under intense pressure from Argentina's Cristian Romero in the 111th minute, finally broke Cape Verde's valiant resistance.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that losing to Cape Verde "would have been madness."
It was "a very tough match; you always have to take the positives — this team never gives up," Scaloni reflected post-match. "We have to congratulate the opponent; when people say there are no easy opponents, they proved today that they are a great team."
