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It was another epic World Cup performance from an Argentina team that simply doesn’t know when it’s beaten.
Trailing 2-0 to Egypt with 11 minutes of regulation time on Tuesday, the defending champions rallied for an unlikely 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, who scored the winning goal in stoppage time.
Argentina will play either Switzerland or Colombia in the next round on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.
For large parts of Tuesday’s game, it looked like it would be a painful exit for 39-year-old Lionel Messi in what could be the last of his six World Cups.
Egypt led with goals in each half from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico and could have been 3-0 up if not for a video review that ruled out another goal.
Argentina looked down and out, its bid to be the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 all but dead.
Make a monumental comeback.
“Argentinians’ heart 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 bit knocked out,” said Argentina striker Julian Alvarez. “There was little time left, but we always manage to get something more by fighting to the end.”
Cristian Romero started the contest by scoring with a header in the 79th minute. Messi, in tears after the final whistle, scored his eighth goal of the tournament and record-extending 21st at the World Cup 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 come to enjoy another World Cup – and we want to win it again. That is what we are aiming for,” Fernandez said.
Argentina is no stranger to heroics at the World Cup.
There was the 3-2 win over West Germany in the 1986 final. Then a 3-3 draw and eventual shootout win against France to reclaim the title four years ago.
Cape Verde pushed Argentina to the brink in the final round before eventually winning 3-2 in extra time.
Tuesday’s game was even more dramatic, with Messi saving a penalty in the first half and another effort hitting the post.
“I’m so emotional,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “What a group of players, bro.”
Enzo Fernández scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time for Argentina in the Round of 16. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Egypt took a surprise lead in the 15th minute when Ibrahim got in front of Lisandro Martínez to meet Marwan Attia’s cross and head the ball into the bottom corner.
Argentina quickly had the chance to level the game when Haissem Hassan ripped down Nicolas Tagliafico in the box moments later. Referee François Letexier pointed to the penalty spot and Messi stepped forward with an expectant crowd waiting for him to score.
Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir had other ideas as he dived to his left to block the shot for Messi’s second penalty of the tournament after also missing from the spot against Austria in the group stage.
Despite being the world’s leading goalscorer at the World Cup, Messi has now missed four out of eight penalties in the tournament.
After Messi hit the post later in the half, Shobeir made another great save to stop Julián Alvarez from close range.
Egypt thought they had doubled their lead in the second half when Mostafa Zico finished off a sweeping strike. But the wild celebrations were cut short when a foul earlier in the run was confirmed on video review and the goal disallowed.
The second goal for Egypt came in the 67th from a similar break, and this time Zico’s effort did the talking. It just wasn’t enough.
Report from the Associated Press.
