They came from behind to secure a stunning 3-2 victory
\n ATLANTA
\nArgentina staged a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to avoid a stunning exit at the hands of Egypt and prolong Lionel Messi\u2019s World Cup career with a 3-2 win to reach the quarter-finals.
\nThe holders looked down and out when goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko, either side of Messi having a penalty saved, put the Pharaohs in sight of a historic victory in Atlanta.
\nHowever, Cristian Romero\u2019s header sparked the comeback as Argentina struck three times in the final 11 minutes plus stoppage time.
\nMessi smashed home the equaliser to score for a ninth consecutive World Cup game and retake the lead for the Golden Boot with eight this tournament.
\nEnzo Fernandez completed the turnaround with a superb header two minutes into stoppage time.
\nAt the end, Messi shed tears of joy as he embraced his teammates.
\nEgypt were left furious after a number of controversial calls went against them, including a disallowed goal early in the second half, and a member of their coaching staff was red-carded in the aftermath of the winning goal.
\nBut despite a second almighty scare against African opposition, Argentina will face either Colombia or Switzerland in the last eight on Saturday.
\nLionel Scaloni attempted to refresh a side that looked dead on their feet in the closing stages of a 3-2 win over Cape Verde in the last 32 on Friday.
\nNicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes and Julian Alvarez came in from the team that started in Miami, but Argentina got off to another slow start.
\nMarwan Attia\u2019s deep cross to the back post was powered home by Yasser.
\nArgentina had the chance to level five minutes later when Tagliafico was wiped out by Haissem Hassan inside the box.
\nHowever, there was another chapter to Messi\u2019s misery from the penalty spot at World Cups.
\nThe eight-time Ballon d\u2019Or\u2019s strike was tentative and Mostafa Shobeir flew to his left to save, meaning Messi has now missed four of his eight non-shootout penalties at World Cups. He also became the first player to miss two in a single tournament, having also failed to hit the target against Austria in the group stages.
\nThe penalty save was just the start of Shobeir\u2019s inspired afternoon.
\nAlexis Mac Allster\u2019s powerful header from point-blank range was next to be parried by the Al Ahly stopper.
\nShobeir then produced one of the saves of the tournament to prevent Alvarez\u2019s shot finding the bottom corner.
\nEgypt thought they had doubled their lead on the hour mark after a brilliant counter-attack.
\nMohamed Salah played in Mostafa Ziko, who dinked the ball perfectly over the onrushing Emi Martinez.
\nHowever, Egyptian celebrations were cut short by a hugely controversial VAR intervention for a foul on Lisandro Martinez, just outside the Egypt box, at the start of the build-up to the goal.
\nThe decision finally fired up the majority Argentine crowd, but they were silenced once more moments later by another blistering Egyptian break.
\nSalah again led the charge before feeding Hassan and his cross was swept in by Zico.
\nArgentina looked like a beaten side with Messi among those who head was bowed during the second-half drinks break.
\nYet Romero\u2019s header \u2014 that Shoubir just failed to keep out \u2014 sparked a remarkable revival as the defending champions hauled themselves off the canvas.
\nMoments later a dazzling run by Messi teed up Lautaro Martinez, who headed just wide and Messi was to have his moment of redemption seven minutes from time.
\nGonzalo Montiel fed the ball back for his captain to strike sweetly on the half volley.
\nShoubir again got a touch but couldn\u2019t get it out as the ball cannonned in off the bar for Messi\u2019s 21st World Cup goal.
\nThen Fernandez\u2019s bullet header from Lautaro Martinez\u2019s cross completed the fightback and Argentina\u2019s relief was on full display after the final whistle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
They came from behind to secure a stunning 3-2 victory ATLANTA Argentina staged a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to avoid a stunning exit at the hands of Egypt and prolong Lionel Messi\u2019s World Cup career with a 3-2 win to reach the quarter-finals. The holders looked down and out when goals from Yasser Ibrahim […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":555326,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-555303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n