Shafaqna Pakistan: Defending champions Argentina produced another remarkable World Cup comeback on Tuesday, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 and secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Trailing 2-0 with just 11 minutes of normal time remaining, Argentina mounted a dramatic fightback, with Enzo Fernández scoring the stoppage-time winner to complete the stunning turnaround.
“We have a phenomenal group that never gives up, no matter the difficulties or adversity. We’re always together,” Fernández said after the match.
Argentina will face either Switzerland or Colombia in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.
For much of the contest, it appeared 39-year-old Lionel Messi’s sixth—and potentially final—World Cup campaign would end in disappointment before Argentina’s late resurgence kept their title defence alive.
Egypt led after goals in each half from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico and could have been ahead 3-0 if not for a video review that ruled out another score.
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.
“The heart of Argentinians is always something that pushes, that we keep going no matter what, that we give everything until the end. And honestly, with the score 2-0, we looked a bit beaten,” Argentina striker Julian Alvarez said. “There was little time left, but we 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-extending 21st goal 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’ve come to enjoy another World Cup — and we want to win it again. That’s what we’re aiming for,” Fernandez said.
Argentina is no stranger to heroic matches at the World Cup.
Source: Dunya News
