When Argentina twice conceded equalizing goals to Cape Verde in the round of 32 on Friday night, the decidedly partisan Albiceleste crowd did not grow quiet.

Read more Anisimova and Fritz through as Americans sparkle at Wimbledon

If anything, the volume increased as La Doce made the stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., their own, imploring their side to a 3-2, extra-time victory that will go down as one of the all-time great World Cup matches.

For Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, it was very much appreciated.

“I think the (fans) are the first ones who understand that this is Argentina, nothing is easy,” Scaloni said through an interpreter. “When you have bad results, you must have character as you have 47 million people rooting for you, and you need the courage to bounce back from that. And this team has it. I think people know it.”

At a tournament where critics have questioned whether the matchday atmosphere would suffer as a result of record-high ticket prices, Argentina’s supporters have continued to do whatever it takes to pack American stadiums.

It was particularly true Friday in South Florida, which has one of the country’s highest concentrations of Argentine lineage, and an MLS team in Inter Miami that is the club home of Albiceleste stars Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.

“There are Argentinians everywhere,” Messi said through an interpreter. “Many people came here. Even those who came without tickets, they had a lot of excitement, and they supported us as they always do.”

Fans of other South American nations — particularly Colombia and Ecuador — have also created fiercely partisan environments despite ticket prices.

Yet after Argentina ended a 36-year drought and won the 2022 World Cup, perhaps none are as unrelenting as those who support the Albiceleste with the confidence that such support will be rewarded.

That was eventually true Friday, long after Messi opened the scoring with his World Cup-record-increasing 20th career goal. The matter wasn’t settled until Cristian Romero’s 111th-minute header caromed off Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and over the line.

Even Cape Verde manager Bubista noticed the resiliency of Argentina’s support following his side’s two game-tying goals, including a fabulous strike from Sidny Lopes Cabral that made it 2-all in the 103rd minute.

“Looking at the stadium virtually filled with Argentinians also shows the greatness of the team, of the nation, of their football,” he said. “I think they’re already used to that. Obviously the public in attendance tonight helped with that at points.

“Even when we equalized, we felt the (fans) cheering Argentina on in moments of difficulty throughout the match.”

Egypt top
Australia on PKs, advance
to round of 16

Egypt converted all four of their penalty kicks to win a shootout with Australia 4-2 following a 1-1 draw, securing their first World Cup knockout-round victory on Friday in Arlington, Texas.

Mahmoud Saber, Ramy Rabia, Mohamed Salah and Hossam Abdelmaguid all deposited their attempts in the net past Mathew Ryan, who did not appear in this World Cup before subbing on for Patrick Beach late in extra time as a penalty-kick specialist.

Harry Souttar had the first try for Australia and cleared his shot into the stands. Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil got their shots past Egypt keeper Mostafa Shoubir before Salah made a quick sprint at his ball and scored center-net while Ryan dove to his left.

Australia sent 18-year-old Colorado Rapids defender Lucas Herrington on for the fourth round, and his shot found the crossbar. That left Abdelmaguid to finish off Egypt’s deserved victory as Ryan guessed the wrong way again.

Emam Ashour got Egypt on the board in the 13th minute. The Pharaohs will face Argentina in the round of 16 on Tuesday in Atlanta after the Argentines earned a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the round of 32.

Read more UH-Hilo to host summer youth camps and clinics

Australia, who were also looking for their first-ever knockout triumph, failed to score a regulation goal in their final three matches of the tournament after opening with a 2-0 win over Turkey. Their lone tally Friday came on an own goal by Mohamed Hany.

During the second-half stoppage, Beach parried Egypt’s best chance over the bar, preventing Rabia’s close-range header from becoming the game-winner. The 30 minutes of extra time, like regulation, saw Egypt dominate possession and create more chances as the Socceroos defended corner after corner.

A creative free kick set up Ashour’s goal. Salah flicked it back to Ashour for a run, but a defender blocked his attempt. The ball stayed in the area, and Ashour moved into a good position while Egypt passed the ball the other way to Karim Hafez.

When Hafez uncorked a cross to the far side, Ashour was there to elevate for a strong header that split Beach and the post.

Hany — who needed treatment on his knee during the first half — was at the center of a scary moment in the early minutes of the second. After an aerial collision with Connor Metcalfe near the Egypt net, Hany fell in a heap and teammates immediately called for assistance. Trainers prepared a stretcher, but after Hany stood up and underwent a concussion check, he was allowed to stay in the game.

The tying own goal came about five minutes later at 55 minutes, when Hany’s header could not direct a curling free kick from Aiden O’Neill away from the net.

Early goal
sends Colombia
past Ghana

Jhon Arias scored the lone goal in the 14th minute and Colombia earned a spot in the World Cup’s round of 16 with a 1-0 victory over Ghana on Friday in Kansas City, Mo.

Arias’ goal held up as the Colombian defense didn’t allow Ghana to get a single shot on goal against goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

Colombia will face Switzerland in the round of 16 on Tuesday in Vancouver.

Colombia didn’t qualify for the 2022 World Cup, but they did reach the round of 16 in 2018 and the quarterfinals in 2014.

Lawrence Ati Zigi was stellar in goal with seven saves for Ghana.

Colombia had a 16-8 edge in shots and placed eight on target.

Luis Suarez set up the Colombia goal when he sent a cross from the right side toward the center. The ball narrowly sailed over the heads of two players — one from each team — to the wide-open Arias, who sent a right-footed shot into the far corner.

Luis Diaz had a solid opportunity for Colombia in the 39th minute, but his close-range right-footed shot was wide left.

Colombia kept the heat on and had a chance in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Daniel Munoz sent a cross over to Johan Mojica, but his header was knocked aside by Zigi’s right hand.

Zigi made two big saves in a short span of the second half to keep the margin at one.

In the 55th minute, Gustavo Puerta took a shot from the left side and pinpointed it for the far post, but Zigi knocked the ball away with both hands. Three minutes later, Diaz had another close-range opportunity, but Zigi again thwarted his right-footed shot.

Colombia took another shot at adding to the lead on Juan Fernando Quintero’s corner kick in the 81st minute. Davinson Sanchez fought to find positioning, but his header was saved by Zigi.

As time dwindled away, Colombia kept on the pressure as Ghana struggled to come close to an equalizer.

Read more UKIRT observatory will end astronomy operations in September