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It was another epic World Cup match for an Argentina team that just doesn’t know when it’s beaten.
Trailing 2-0 against Egypt with 11 minutes of regulation time remaining on Tuesday, the defending champions rallied for an improbable 3-2 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
“We have a phenomenal group, a group that never gives up, regardless of difficulties and adversity. We are always together,” said Enzo Fernández, scorer of the stoppage-time winner.
Argentina will face Switzerland or Colombia in the next round on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.
For much of Tuesday’s match, it looked like it would be a painful exit for Lionel Messi, 39, in what could be the last of his six World Cups.
Egypt led after goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico in each half and could have been 3-0 up if not for a video review that ruled out another score.
Argentina looked down on them, their bid to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 all but dead.
Cue a monumental comeback.
“The heart of the Argentines is always something that pushes, that we continue no matter what, that we give everything until the end. And honestly, with the score 2-0, we looked a little beaten,” said Argentine striker Julian Alvarez. “There was little time left, but you always manage to get something more by fighting until the end.”
Cristian Romero started the rally by scoring with a header in the 79th minute. Messi, who was in tears after the final whistle, scored his eighth goal of the tournament and record 21st World Cup goal in the 83rd to level the score at 2-2 and Fernandez completed the comeback in injury time.
“Four years have passed since Qatar, and we have been able to enjoy another World Cup – and we want to win it again. That’s what we are aiming for,” Fernandez said.
Argentina is no stranger to heroic World Cup matches.
There was the 3-2 victory against West Germany in the 1986 final. Then the 3-3 draw and eventual victory on penalties against France to regain the title four years ago.
Cape Verde pushed Argentina to the brink in the final round before eventually winning 3-2 in overtime.
Tuesday’s game was even more dramatic, with Messi awarded a penalty in the first half and another effort hitting the post.
“I’m so moved,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. “What a group of players, brother.”
Enzo Fernández scored the winner in stoppage time for Argentina in the round of 16. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Egypt took a surprising lead in the 15th minute when Ibrahim outpaced Lisandro Martínez to respond to Marwan Attia’s cross and head the ball into the bottom corner.
Argentina had an early chance to level the match when Haissem Hassan ripped past Nicolas Tagliafico in the box moments later. Referee François Letexier pointed to the penalty spot and Messi stepped in with an impatient crowd waiting for him to score.
Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir had other ideas, diving to his left to block Messi’s second missed penalty shot of the tournament after also failing from the spot against Austria in the group stage.
Despite being the all-time leading scorer at the World Cup, Messi has now missed four of the tournament’s eight shots on goal.
After Messi hit the post later in the half, Shobeir made another superb save to deny Julián Alvarez from close range.
Egypt thought they had doubled their lead in the second half when Mostafa Zico finished off a sweeping attack. But the wild celebrations were cut short when a foul earlier in the move was confirmed on video and the goal disallowed.
This second Egyptian goal came in the 67th, on a similar break, and this time, Zico’s effort counted. It just wasn’t enough.
Associated Press reporting.
