The Albiceleste could have pushed for a second but decided not to, and the game felt so easy that Argentina decided to slow it down even more and give Cape Verde the ball.
Then Lopes Cabral scored one of the great goals in recent World Cup history, and Cape Verde came back to equalize for a second time in spectacular fashion.
Cape Verde’s story in the World Cup ends the only way it could have: in epic fashion, with extraordinary spirit and resilience that kept them alive until the very end.
No one will ever forget Vozinha and his buddies, and I’m not afraid to say it: whoever wins the World Cup, they will not be the People’s Champion.
That title already belongs to Cape Verde.
Argentina played at a very slow pace throughout the game, but the first half was one of full control that gave them the lead thanks to a brilliant long pass by Lisandro Martínez and an even better combination of first touch and finish from Lionel Messi.
The Albiceleste could have pushed for a second but decided not to, and the game felt so easy that Argentina decided to slow it down even more and give Cape Verde the ball. The underdogs grew into the contest and found a shocking equalizer, and Vozinha put on a show in the second half to send the game to extra-time, which was in itself a gigantic achievement.
When Lisandro Martínez scored two minutes into extra-time, it felt like Argentina would finally establish their superiority and kill off the game. Then Lopes Cabral scored one of the great goals in recent World Cup history, and Cape Verde came back to equalize for a second time in spectacular fashion.
Messi’s corner found the head of Cristian Romero to give Argentina a third lead on the night in the second half of the extra period, and that was finally enough to put the game away and send the champions to the Round of 16.
Cape Verde’s story in the World Cup ends the only way it could have: in epic fashion, with extraordinary spirit and resilience that kept them alive until the very end. No one will ever forget Vozinha and his buddies, and I’m not afraid to say it: whoever wins the World Cup, they will not be the People’s Champion. That title already belongs to Cape Verde.
