By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
WORLD CUP defending champions and indeed three times title holders, The Selection of Argentina on Saturday morning Nigerian time survived fiery bites of debutante Blue Sharks of Capo Verde of Africa that kept swimming after them for their blood at Miami Stadium with a pulsating 3-2 win in extra time.
World megastar Lionel Messi, whose first shot at goal was stylishly saved by the Capo goalkeeper who was fantastic in the game made his 7th goal gunning for the Golden Boot with the opener in the 29th minute from a set up by Lisandro Martinez.
Capo played deep trying to defend their territory but a fast break in the 55th minute saw Deroy Duante score the first goal for Capo from a pass by Ryan Mendes.
Argentina got the 2nd goal through a move by Alexis Allister who found Lisandro Martinez to score in the 92nd minute.
Capo ranked 67th in the world refused to show regards for world no 1, Argentina with their big names, experiences and monetary value worth more than 50 times of their total cost when Capo made the score board to read 2-2 at 103rd minute of the extra time making the players and bench of Argentina sweat like fishes as Yannick who just spent a minute of play got Sidny Cabral to score with the right foot.
The world feared Africa! Argentina piled pressure to show champions stuff which paid off when Willy Samendo called Willy Willy in Nigeria committed a foul in their territory and the resultant kick was defected into goal by Diney Borges in the 111st minute for Argentina’s winner. It is an act Borges will weep over for decades.
Even the stats did not show remarkable differences of a world champion of 1978, 1986 and 2022 and a debutante (first comer) in the shots, passes, ball possessions even fouls that was 13-12 against Argentina, yellow cards 1-1 and corner kicks 8-8.
Shark bite survivors Argentina will face another African test in Egypt on Tuesday 7th July in the R16 Games.
Canada will have their African acid test against Morocco today Saturday at 6,00pm; Paraguay faces France at 10.00pm.
Only one match will be played on Sunday when Brazil takes on Norway at 9pm. On Monday at 1.00am it will be England versus Mexico; Portugal meets Spain at 8,00pm same Monday; USA trades tackles with Belgium on Tuesday at 1.00am; Argentina vs Egypt at 5.00pm on Tuesday while Switzerland is waiting for winner of the Ghana vs Columbia match for the R16 Game at 9.00pm on Tuesday.
PLEASE NOT THAT FIFA PLANS TO CHANGE MATCH TIME FOR MANY GAMES BECAUSE OF PREVAILING HOT WEATHER IN THE REGIONS.
#FIFA #2026WORLDCUP #CONMEBOL
#CAF #AFA #FCF #NFF.
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