Argentina in the quarterfinals but what a scare! From 0-2 to 3-2 with Egypt

Fireworks at the Atlanta Stadium where in round of 16 between Argentina and Egypt repeated twists and turns and five goals.

The reigning Albiceleste world champion wins by reversing the match: two goals down, in fact, after the 0-1Messi misses his second penalty in a row of this World Cup, Argentina, thanks also to the entry of Lautaro Martinez, scores three goals and goes to the quarter-finals. Messi scores the 2-2 and takes his tally to 8 goals in the World Cup.

The match report

Argentina goes behind, misses a penalty and makes an epic comeback to beat Egypt 3-2. It was Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernández who overturned the 0-2 deficit and gave Scaloni’s team passage to the next round, which awaits a match between Switzerland and Colombia in the quarter-finals. The Pharaohs confirmed their effectiveness on high balls and took the lead on the quarter-hour mark. Ashour serves Attia, who brushes a beautiful ball into the center which Ibrahim pounces on, who heads it perfectly and pierces Martínez for the 1-0. The reaction of the reigning champions is immediate. In the 19th minute Haissem Hassan commits a foul on Tagliafico in the area and the referee awards the penalty.

Messi appears from the spot, but is hypnotized by Shobeir and misses his second 11-metre shot of the tournament. The goalkeeper was decisive again in the 28th minute, when he dived to save a close-range header from Mac Allister, which was well triggered by a cross from the right from De Paul. Three minutes later Messi tries with a long-range free kick that hits the outside post. Shobeir is insurmountable and in the 39th minute he makes a great diving stop to Alvarez’s left-footed volley with a sure shot, born from a splendid first-time assist from the left by Tagliafico. Shobeir’s miracles allow Salah and his teammates to end the first half with the lead.

In the 14th minute of the second half, Zico even found the second goal but the referee, after the VAR review, annulled it due to a foul committed by Ateya at the start of the action. The disappointment of the North Africans did not last long, because the 2-0 arrived anyway but in the 22nd minute. Salah starts again at full speed centrally and widens on the right for Haissem Hassan, who puts the ball in tow for Zico who passes the opposing goalkeeper for the sensational second.

Argentina’s reaction

The South Americans seem to be on the ropes, but in the 34th minute they close the gap. Messi passes a ball to the center of the area for Romero, who heads past Shobeir and reopens everything. Messi takes the team on his shoulders and in the 38th minute he scores the 2-2. First he crosses a ball in the center and then collects it after a touch from Montiel, beating Shobeir with a full head. The comeback is completed at the start of injury time. Lautaro Martínez receives the ball wide to the right, looks to the hundred and crosses for Enzo Fernández who heads it into the corner and leaves Shobeir petrified for the final 3-2. From fear to joy, Argentina bids its ticket to the quarterfinals and waits to meet its next rival.