For 82 minutes this sat in a simple state: the stronger side had control and only the score needed catching up. Then it became one of those knockout nights that leaves traces on every surface. Argentina won 3 : 2 after extra time, and the numbers do not ask for reinterpretation. They had 2.16 xG to 0.45, 22 shots to 16, and 15 efforts from inside the box to 6. The match was noisy late on. Its logic was established much earlier. Argentina’s advantage was built in plain view. They had 64% of the ball and completed 779 passes from 849 attempts.
Cape Verde put fifteen shots into the evening and only two on target. That single ratio explains a goalless draw better than 1.46 xG against 0.40 ever could. The 49% Crime Index sees no anomaly — just poor aim meeting low ambition.