A 111th-minute Diney Borges own goal saved holders Argentina from one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history as they scrapped past heroic debutants Cape Verde in the last 32.
The team lying 64th in the Fifa rankings twice came back to equalise against opponents who are second in the world.
With the score locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the outsiders forced their illustrious opponents into extra time. Lisandro Martinez then thought he had won it for Argentina with a superb finish in the 92nd minute.
But Sidny Lopes Cabral produced one of World Cup’s great goals 11 minutes later when he cut inside to the left of the box and whipped a curling strike over goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and into the top corner to make it 2-2.
Enjoying the night of his career, Cabral then forced a stunning save from Martinez four minutes from the end of extra time – but they could not draw level for a third time to force penalties.
It was a party atmosphere early in Miami – with thousands of expectant Argentines cheering on their team.
And they had looked to be easing their way to victory when Lionel Messi produced another moment of magic in the 29th minute.
The Argentina captain scored his 20th World Cup goal as he beautifully controlled defender Martinez’s long ball before finishing high into the net.
But the smallest nation to play in a World Cup knockout match were not about to leave the tournament quietly.
And Deroy Duarte’s second-half finish pulled Cape Verde level – as he made the run into the box and powered a finish through the legs of Manchester United defender Martinez and beyond the goalkeeper from a tight angle as a number of Cape Verde fans cried tears of joy.
Two minutes into extra time in Miami, defender Martinez latched on to Alexis Mac Allister’s flick from a corner and produced a powerful finish to beat goalkeeper Vozinha.
Then came Cabral’s world-class equaliser for Cape Verde. And although it was not to be for them in the end, they certainly left their mark on the World Cup.
After Messi fired Lionel Scaloni’s side into a first-half lead, football fans around the world would have been forgiven for thinking Argentina’s passage to the last 16 would be a forgone conclusion.
It was anything but.
Cape Verde would not accept defeat, with Duarte cancelling out Messi’s opener before Cabral scored only a goal he could dream of in extra time after Martinez thought he had won it.
Argentina could well go on to retain the World Cup they won in Qatar four years ago, but they will not easily forget the almighty fight they had here.
Goalkeeper Vozinha was lauded a hero for his performance in the 0-0 draw with Spain in the opening group game but he went one better this time.
The 40-year-old made eight saves – including a one-on-one with Messi and a fingertip stop from the Argentina captain’s free-kick.
As Cristian Romero’s header deflected in off Diney Borges in the 111th minute, there was more relief than happiness on the faces of Argentine fans in the stands.
Martinez and Messi were among the Argentina players consoling their devastated opponents at the end. But even though they were defeated, Cape Verde have well and truly earned the respect of the footballing world.
