Reigning champion Argentina escapes with remarkable World Cup victory over Egypt

Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates scoring his team's 2nd extremity during their World Cup lucifer against Egypt successful Atlanta connected Tuesday. Elsa/Getty Images hide caption

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Elsa/Getty Images

They looked beaten. And out. Argentina, the defending World Cup champion and No. 1-ranked team, was down 2-0 precocious against Egypt.

Then, successful a span of 13 singular minutes, Argentina scored not once, not twice, but 3 times, capping a comeback for the ages and leaving Egypt stunned and shellshocked.

For overmuch of the crippled successful Atlanta, Egypt was successful control, hobbling Argentina early. The Egyptian onslaught began astir instantly with a stunning header extremity delivered by Yasser Ibrahim successful the 15th minute. After that, Egypt's defence closed ranks, making it practically intolerable for Argentina to equalize.

It was downhill from determination for the Argentines: squad skipper Lionel Messi failed to person a punishment kick, and successful the 67th minute, Egypt got a 2nd extremity from Mostafa Ziko (after an earlier Egyptian extremity had been disallowed aft a video review). It looked similar Argentina was finished. On the brink of elimination.

But nary 1 told the Argentine players that.

In the 79th minute, Lionel Messi began doing his thing. He fired a transverse adjacent the Egyptian goal, and Cristian Romero headed it in. Messi was not done. Four minutes later, helium powered a changeable past the Egyptian keeper. It was his eighth extremity of this tournament, the most of immoderate player. The people was 2-2.

Then, successful stoppage time, yet different Argentina header and different goal, this clip from Enzo Fernandez.

"This is the World Cup for you," said Messi aft the game. "It wasn't casual to travel backmost from 2 goals down. But arsenic I ever say, this radical ne'er gives up. We ever effort to combat until the end."

French referee François Letexier speaks with Egypt guardant Mohamed Salah during the World Cup Round of 16 lucifer betwixt Argentina and Egypt successful Atlanta. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Afterward, Egypt manager Hossam Hassan complained astir the French referee and the officiating. "I americium not convinced. I americium not convinced with this outcome. I'm not convinced with the mode things unfolded during this match," said Hassan successful a post-match quality conference. "We person been treated unfairly today. We person suffered injustice."

"We would person deserved to gain this win, but we are leaving with honor, with pride, careless of this defeat," said Hossan.

African shot teams person been the stars of this World Cup. Morocco has yet to suffer a game. Cape Verde qualified for the archetypal clip successful its past and stymied Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Argentina hardly bushed them successful a nail-biter of a match.

For Egypt, getting this acold successful the tourney is historical successful itself: it's the archetypal clip the squad has made it this far. For Argentina, it was a terrifying yet relieving victory: respective players, including Messi himself, cried aft the game. 

Next, they determination to the quarterfinals and volition play the victor of today's Switzerland-Colombia match.