Argentina Beat Cabo Verde 3-2 After Extra Time; Winner Was an Own Goal

Correction: The original SportSignals article was structurally incomplete and credited Cristian Romero with Argentina's decisive goal against Cabo Verde. The official record credits Diney Borges with an own goal after Romero headed Lionel Messi's corner towards the net. This version corrects the scorer and replaces broad claims about Argentina's weaknesses with the documented match record.

Argentina led before Cabo Verde fought back

The BBC's original video report recorded Argentina's 3-2 extra-time win and described Cabo Verde as pushing the reigning champions throughout their first World Cup knockout match. Watch the BBC Sport report.

FIFA's match report gives the official scoring sequence. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, Deroy Duarte equalised in the 59th, and Lisandro Martinez put Argentina back in front early in extra time. Sidny Lopes Cabral then made it 2-2 before the late own goal decided the match. Read FIFA's match report.

The decisive touch belonged to Borges

CAF's account says Messi delivered the 111th-minute corner, Romero headed it towards goal and Borges inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net. That sequence matters because the original article presented Romero as the goalscorer rather than the player whose header caused the own goal. Read CAF's match account.

Associated Press also reported a 3-2 Argentina victory after extra time and identified the winner as an own goal following Messi's corner. Its report noted Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha's role in keeping the match close during the country's World Cup debut. Read the AP match report.

What the result establishes

Argentina advanced with a 3-2 win after extra time. Messi and Lisandro Martinez scored Argentina's first two goals, while Duarte and Lopes Cabral scored for Cabo Verde. The deciding score was Borges's own goal in the 111th minute.

Cabo Verde twice recovered from a deficit and forced the defending champions into extra time. That supports describing the contest as close and competitive. It does not, by itself, establish that Argentina had lasting tactical “cracks” or predict how the team would perform in a later round, so those claims have been removed.

The revised article also avoids implying that Romero was awarded a goal. His header was an important part of the decisive play, but the reviewed competition and match reports consistently record the final touch as an own goal by Borges.