Argentina survived one of the biggest scares of their World Cup defence after coming from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta and reach the quarter-finals.
For much of the match, the holders looked close to elimination. Egypt were brave, sharp on the break and ruthless when chances came. They had a two-goal lead, a goalkeeper in inspired form and a crowd beginning to sense that Lionel Messi’s World Cup story might be ending in painful fashion.
Instead, Argentina found something late.
Cristian Romero started the comeback with a header, Messi levelled with a powerful half-volley, and Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround in stoppage time with a superb header from Lautaro Martinez’s cross.
It was a dramatic escape for Lionel Scaloni’s side, who had also been pushed hard by Cape Verde in the previous round. Argentina are through, but this was another reminder that their title defence is being tested in ways few expected.
Egypt struck first after a slow start from Argentina. Marwan Attia delivered a deep cross to the back post, where Yasser Ibrahim powered home to give the Pharaohs a deserved lead.
Argentina were handed a quick route back into the game when Nicolas Tagliafico was brought down by Haissem Hassan inside the box. Messi stepped up, but his penalty was poor by his standards, and Mostafa Shobeir dived to his left to save.
It was another difficult World Cup penalty moment for Messi, who has now missed four of his eight non-shootout spot-kicks at the tournament. He had also failed to score from the spot earlier in this edition against Austria.
Shobeir’s save gave Egypt even more belief. The Al Ahly goalkeeper then produced a string of outstanding stops, denying Alexis Mac Allister from close range before making a brilliant save to keep out Julian Alvarez’s low effort.
Egypt thought they had doubled their lead around the hour mark after a flowing counter-attack. Mohamed Salah released Mostafa Ziko, who lifted the ball over Emiliano Martinez with great composure. The celebrations, however, were cut short after VAR ruled out the goal for a foul on Lisandro Martinez at the start of the move.
The decision angered Egypt, but they did not lose focus.
Moments later, they struck again. Salah once more led the break before finding Hassan, whose cross was finished by Ziko to make it 2-0. At that point, Argentina looked shaken. Messi’s head dropped during the second-half drinks break, and the defending champions appeared short of ideas.
Then the match turned.
Romero gave Argentina life with a header that Shobeir got a hand to but could not keep out. The goal changed the energy of the game and lifted the Argentine supporters, who had been growing increasingly anxious.
Messi almost created the equaliser soon after with a brilliant run before setting up Lautaro Martinez, whose header drifted just wide.
The captain’s redemption arrived seven minutes from time. Gonzalo Montiel pulled the ball back to Messi, who met it cleanly on the half-volley. Shobeir again got a touch, but this time the power was too much. The ball crashed in off the bar for Messi’s 21st World Cup goal and his eighth of this tournament.
It was also his ninth consecutive World Cup match with a goal, moving him back ahead in the Golden Boot race.
Argentina were not finished. With Egypt trying to hold on for extra time, Lautaro delivered a dangerous cross into the box, and Fernandez attacked it with conviction. His header flew past Shobeir to complete a comeback that had looked almost impossible only minutes earlier.
Egypt were furious after the winner, and a member of their coaching staff was shown a red card during the protests. Their anger was understandable after a night full of controversial moments, but their players also left with pride after pushing the champions to the edge.
For Argentina, relief poured out at the final whistle. Messi was in tears as he embraced his teammates, fully aware of how close his final World Cup campaign had come to ending.
Scaloni’s team will now face either Colombia or Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Argentina remain alive. Egypt leave heartbroken. Messi’s dream continues, but only after one of the most dramatic escapes of the tournament.
