Own goal in 111th minute rescues Argentina, denies Cape Verde historic World Cup upset

A 111th-minute Diney Borges own goal spared holders Argentina from one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history as they edged heroic debutants Cape Verde 3-2 in a last-32 thriller.

The team lying 64th in the FIFA rankings twice came back to equalise against opponents who are second in the world. The result kept Argentina alive but left Cape Verde with a performance that will be remembered.

With the score locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the outsiders forced their illustrious opponents into extra time, reports the BBC. Cape Verde’s resistance turned a routine knockout tie into a test of Argentina’s nerve.

Lisandro Martinez then thought he had won it for Argentina with a superb finish in the 92nd minute. The Manchester United defender latched on to Alexis Mac Allister’s flick from a corner and produced a powerful finish to beat goalkeeper Vozinha.

But Sidny Lopes Cabral produced one of the World Cup’s great goals 11 minutes later. He cut inside to the left of the box and whipped a curling strike over goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and into the top corner to make it 2-2.

Enjoying the night of his career, Cabral then forced a stunning save from Emiliano Martinez four minutes from the end of extra time. The Cape Verde forward had threatened to write an even bigger chapter before Argentina’s late reprieve.

Cape Verde could not draw level for a third time to force penalties. The decisive moment came when Diney Borges turned the ball into his own net in the 111th minute, ending the smallest nation to play in a World Cup knockout match’s run.

It was a party atmosphere early in Miami with thousands of expectant Argentines cheering on their team. The crowd anticipated a routine win for the holders.

And they had looked to be easing their way to victory when Lionel Messi produced another moment of magic in the 29th minute. The Argentina captain scored his 20th World Cup goal as he beautifully controlled defender Martinez’s long ball before finishing high into the net.

But the smallest nation to play in a World Cup knockout match were not about to leave the tournament quietly. Deroy Duarte’s second-half finish pulled Cape Verde level.

Duarte made the run into the box and powered a finish through the legs of Manchester United defender Martinez and beyond the goalkeeper from a tight angle. A number of Cape Verde fans cried tears of joy as their side stunned the holders.

Two minutes into extra time in Miami, defender Martinez thought he had settled it with his powerful finish from Mac Allister’s corner flick. The lead lasted only nine minutes before Cabral’s world-class equaliser.

Then came Cabral’s curling strike that beat Emiliano Martinez and sent the Cape Verde bench into delirium. For a moment, a shootout looked inevitable and an upset loomed.

And although it was not to be for them in the end, they certainly left their mark on the World Cup. Cape Verde exit with pride, having twice pegged back the reigning champions and pushed them to the brink.

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