Argentina looked to be heading out of the World Cup, two goals down to Egypt with about a quarter of an hour to play. Instead the holders produced a late surge to win 3-2 in Atlanta, a comeback led by Lionel Messi that kept their bid for back-to-back titles alive and broke Egyptian hearts in the round of 16.
From the brink
Egypt, enjoying a landmark run at the tournament, had stunned Argentina by building a two-goal lead. Then the game turned. Messi laid on a goal for Cristian Romero to halve the deficit, and soon after scored himself to level it, ESPN reported. With the match seemingly bound for extra time, Enzo Fernandez headed home in second-half stoppage time to complete the turnaround, NBC Sports reported. Argentina had scored three times in the closing stages after barely threatening for much of the night.
Messi to the fore
It was another chapter in Messi's long World Cup story. His goal was, by TSN's count, his 21st at World Cups, extending his own record, TSN reported. The night was not flawless for him: he had a penalty saved earlier, a reminder that even in a match he decided, the margins were fine. But when Argentina most needed a spark, he supplied it, first as creator, then as scorer.
A cruel end for Egypt
For Egypt, and for Mohamed Salah, who had carried much of their attacking threat through the tournament, the defeat was a bitter way to bow out after leading for so long. A disallowed goal, ruled out after a video review for a foul in the build-up, was among the fine margins that went against them as Argentina rallied. Their run, one of the stories of this World Cup, ended a step short of the quarterfinals.
What is next
Argentina move on to the last eight, where they will meet the winner of Switzerland against Colombia. The manner of the win, ragged for long spells and then ruthless at the death, will not trouble a team that made a habit of finding a way in its 2022 triumph. Once again, with Messi at its heart, Argentina survived, and once again it is still standing.
