UNITED STATES – Reigning FIFA World Cup champions Argentina survived a monumental scare before defeating Cabo Verde 3-2 in an all-time World Cup classic in the early hours of Saturday 4 July, as Egypt beat Australia to reach the last 16.

Cabo Verde, with a population of just over 500 000, rocked Lionel Messi’s Argentina with two stunning equalisers to raise the prospect of pulling off the greatest upset in World Cup history at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

But a Diney Borges own goal, under pressure from Argentina’s Cristian Romero, in the 111th minute finally broke Cabo Verde’s resistance.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said losing to Cabo Verde “would have been madness”.

It was “a very tough match; you always have to take the positives – this team [Argentina] never gives up,” Scaloni said.

“We have to congratulate the opponent; when people say there are no easy opponents, they proved today that they are a great team,” he added.

ALSO READ: Paraguay stun Germany as Brazil, Morocco advance at World Cup

Early Messi magic

Argentina, who are bidding to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 1962, will play Egypt in Atlanta on Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals.

But the South Americans were forced to cling on for victory against a team ranked 65 places below them by world governing body FIFA.

The Argentinian talisman Messi had fired his into the lead with a superb goal on 29 minutes, setting the reigning world champions on course for what most assumed would be a routine win.

But Deroy Duarte’s 59th-minute equaliser left Argentina shellshocked, and the African qualifiers then held on improbably to force extra-time.

Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s lead in the 92nd minute, but once again Cabo Verde hit back, Sidny Lopes Cabral curling in a magnificent second on 103 minutes.

Argentina though grabbed the winner in the second period of extra-time before hanging on to clinch victory.

“What we achieved, we wanted to show what was possible for small nations,” Cabo Verde’s Irish-born defensive stalwart Pico Lopes said afterwards. “With big hearts, that you can believe, and dream anything is possible.”

Penalty drama

Earlier on Friday evening (3 July), Egypt became the second African team to advance to the last 16, defeating Australia on penalties to win a World Cup knockout match for the first time.

Hossam Abdelmaguid coolly converted the decisive spot-kick to seal a 4-2 shootout win over the Socceroos in Arlington, Texas, after the match finished 1-1 following extra time.

Australia coach Tony Popovic rolled the dice by bringing on veteran goalkeeper Maty Ryan for the shoot-out just moments before the final whistle at the AT&T Stadium.

But Ryan was unable to bring his influence to bear, failing to get a hand on any of Egypt’s successful four penalties.

Australia were left ruing penalty misses from captain Harry Souttar and 18-year-old defender Lucas Herrington, who both blazed over. “It’s history,” Egyptian star Mohamed Salah said.

“I told the boys before the game that this is the biggest stage you can play on. Enjoy it and don’t let the pressure get to you.”

Popovic defended the decision to bring on Ryan for the shoot-out. “We just felt that Maty’s experience will be the difference,” he said of Ryan before defending the selection of the teenaged Herrington to take a pressure-laden penalty.

“I’m sure you’d be saying something else if the young kid scored. You’d probably be sitting there saying how wonderful it is that an 18-year-old took a penalty and scored.”

Egypt’s win bucked what has so far been a disappointing knockout phase for African teams,with South Africa, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo and Algeria all exiting the tournament in the last 32.

ALSO READ: WATCH | Bafana Bafana arrive to hero’s welcome after historic World Cup campaign

Ghana bow out

In Saturday morning’s last game, Colombia stayed on course for a quarter-final meeting with Argentina after squeezing past Ghana 1-0 in Kansas City.

Jhon Arias scored in the 14th minute of a tight match at Arrowhead Stadium to send Colombia into a last-16 meeting with Switzerland.

Anticipation for Monday’s blockbuster last-16 clash between England and Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City was given a jolt of intrigue after it emerged that the kick-off time for the game may be brought forward by several hours due to forecast storms.

But after a chaotic few hours, sources later confirmed the match would go ahead at 02:00 on Monday as planned.