Thrilling Match from Start to Finish

Argentina narrowly avoided a huge upset as they defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time during a World Cup 2026 clash. The South American giants needed a deflected header from defender Cristian Romero to finally break the deadlock and secure their place in the round of 16.

Early Exchanges Set the Tone

Both teams came out with high energy. Cape Verde shocked Argentina by scoring first, but Argentina quickly responded.

• Cape Verde took the lead in the first half with a well-taken goal.
• Argentina equalized just before halftime, keeping the score level.

Cape Verde Push Argentina to the Limit

In the second half, Cape Verde refused to back down. They regained the lead and looked on course for a historic victory. However, Argentina showed their fighting spirit.

• Cape Verde’s second goal put them ahead 2-1.
• Argentina fought back and scored again to make it 2-2, forcing extra time.

Extra Time Drama and Decisive Moment

With the match going into extra time, both teams tired but kept pushing. The winning moment came when Romero connected with a corner kick. His header took a deflection and flew into the net, making it 3-2.

Cape Verde tried to equalize again but Argentina held on for the win.

Argentina Breathes a Sigh of Relief

This victory was far from easy, but Argentina moves on. They will now face tougher opponents in the round of 16. For Cape Verde, they can be proud of their performance against one of the world’s best teams.