Dodging a bullet

Argentina survives Cape Verde scare; Egypt, Colombia through

Los Angeles – Holders Argentina survived a monumental scare before defeating Cape Verde 3-2 in an all-time World Cup classic on Friday as Egypt beat Australia to reach the last 16.

Cape Verde, with a population of just over 500,000, rocked Lionel Messi’s Argentina with two stunning equalizers 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 Cape Verde’s resistance.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said losing to Cape 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.

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

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

Messi had fired Argentina 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 equalizer 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 Cape 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.

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

Earlier, Egypt defeated 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.

“It’s history,” Egypt talisman 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.”

Egypt’s win bucked what has hitherto 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.

In Friday’s late game, Colombia squeezed past Ghana 1-0 in Kansas City.

Jhon Arias scored in the 14th minute.