Argentina come from 0-2 down to beat Egypt in stoppage time (3-2) and reach the quarter-finals: Messi leads the storm
Argentina flirted with humiliation and ended up producing a remontada for the ages. At Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the world champions trailed 0-2 to a stubborn Egypt —goals from Yasser Ibrahim (15') and Mostafa Ziko (67'), with Messi missing a penalty on 21'— and turned it around in eleven minutes: Cristian Romero (79'), Messi (83') and Enzo Fernández in the 90+2' sealed a 3-2 win. Argentina dominated throughout (64% possession, 19 shots, 2.90 expected goals) but had to suffer to the very end. Messi, with a goal and an assist, was named MVP. A quarter-final against the winner of Switzerland-Colombia awaits.
Some nights cannot be explained by the statistics, and this was one of them. Argentina, the world champions, were eleven minutes from the most painful exit of their reign, but came from 0-2 down against Egypt in the closing stages at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium to win 3-2 and book their place in the quarter-finals. Cristian Romero (79'), Lionel Messi (83') and Enzo Fernández in the 90+2' turned around a game the Albiceleste had dominated from start to finish without finding the net.
Lionel Scaloni set up in a 4-1-3-2: Emiliano Martínez in goal; Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez and Tagliafico in defence; Leandro Paredes anchoring; De Paul, Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández ahead of him; and the Messi-Julián Álvarez pairing up top. Opposite, Hossam Hassan lined up a packed and brave 4-4-2, with Salah and Ziko up front and orders to strike on the counter.
And the Egyptian plan worked to perfection for well over an hour. In the 15th, centre-back Yasser Ibrahim got ahead of the Argentine defence to head home 0-1 from a Marwan Attia cross. Messi's response came early —in the 21st he had the equaliser from the penalty spot— but Mostafa Shobeir read his intent and saved the kick. Argentina crashed time and again into the Pharaohs' wall (64% possession, 19 shots, 2.90 expected goals) while Egypt managed the game shrewdly and struck with venom.
The second blow, in the 67th, looked decisive: Mostafa Ziko pounced on a loose ball in the box for 0-2 and silenced Atlanta. The world champions were staring into the abyss. But out of that abyss came the drama. In the 79th, Cristian Romero arrived like a striker to bundle in a measured Messi cross: 1-2. Four minutes later, in the 83rd, Messi himself —who had missed the penalty and endured a frustrating night— made it 2-2 after a Gonzalo Montiel assist to turn the stadium upside down.
And just as the game was heading for extra time, the final blow landed. In the 90+2, Enzo Fernández finished off a fine move set up by Lautaro Martínez for the 3-2 that sparked pandemonium on the Argentina bench. Egypt, who had come so close to glory and finished with three yellow cards, left in tears after a heroic display. Messi, with a goal and an assist despite the missed penalty, was named man of the match with a 9. Argentina, who suffered like rarely before, remain alive and will face the winner of Switzerland-Colombia in the quarter-finals.