Argentina secured their place in the World Cup round of 16 with a commanding 3-1 win over Cape Verde in the last 32 match on Friday. Lionel Messi scored twice in the first half to put the South American champions in control.
Messi Double Settles Early Tone
Messi opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a trademark curling shot from outside the box. He doubled the lead in the 38th minute, converting a penalty after a handball in the area. Argentina dominated possession throughout the first half, with Cape Verde struggling to create chances.
Cape Verde Fight Back but Argentina Hold On
Cape Verde pulled one back in the 55th minute through a header from forward Garry Rodrigues, sparking hopes of a comeback. However, Argentina restored their two-goal cushion in the 72nd minute when Lautaro Martínez finished a swift counter-attack. The win sets up a round of 16 clash against either Australia or Denmark.
According to match statistics, Argentina had 65% possession and 12 shots on target to Cape Verde's 4. Messi's performance earned him the man of the match award. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team's resilience, saying, 'We knew Cape Verde would be tough, but the team showed character to get the job done.'
