What just happened?
That’s what we’re trying to process after Argentina’s insane comeback against Scotland on Wednesday in the final Group D match.
Scotland went ahead by three goals in the 69th minute and looked to be cruising to a third-place finish in Group D and a likely spot in the knockout rounds. Then Argentina scored three goals in the final 20 minutes, including a retaken penalty kick in the 94th minute to earn a 3-3 draw.
The point was enough to see Argentina finish third in Group D on two points, though whether it will be enough to advance to the Round of 16 remains to be seen. The Albicelestes need both the Cameroon-New Zealand and Thailand-Chile matches to finish in draws to rank as one of the top four third-place teams.
Scotland, it the Women's World Cup for the first time ever, was sitting pretty for most of the match thanks to goals from Kim Little, Jenny Beattie and Erin Cuthbert. Milagros Menéndez gave Argentina hope with a strike in the 74th minute, her country’s first Women’s World Cup goal since 2007.
At the time it seemed mere consolation, but then Flor Bonsegundo struck again in the 79th minute and suddenly it was game on.
Scotland couldn’t fully regroup and Argentina poured forward. In the 86th minute, Aldana Cometti was taken down in the Scotland box by Sophie Howard. The referee didn’t spot the infraction, but VAR intervened and awarded Argentina a penalty kick with a chance to tie.
After a bit of a delay, Bonsegundo stepped up to take the penalty.
She hit it tamely, and Scotland keeper Lee Alexander made a save that she thought had kept her team alive in the Women’s World Cup.
But in stepped VAR yet again.
Just as with France’s match against Nigeria on Monday and Italy’s win over Jamaica on Friday, VAR ruled the goalkeeper had stepped off her line too early and the spot kick was to be retaken.
This time, Bonsegundo made no mistake, smashing it past Alexander.
#WWCTelemundo ¡Histórica remontada de @Argentina! Florencia Bonsegundo de penal empata el marcador en el último minuto #SCO 3-3 #ARG pic.twitter.com/oPhhTW3P3k
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 19, 2019
Absolute madness.
The match ended at 3-3, with Scotland upset more extra time wasn’t added on because of all of the VAR delays. The players had a point, but then again they shouldn’t have let a 3-0 lead slip away and Argentina seemed more likely to score next.
The goal could end up keeping both Scotland and Argentina out of the Round of 16 given the narrow margins for La Albicelestes to advance with two points, but it will leave a lasting memory in the minds of all who were fortunate enough to watch the drama unfold live.
England won Group D after it’s 2-0 win Wednesday over Japan, which finished second.
Scotland vs Argentina Highlights
Kim Little Goal, ’19 — 1-0 Scotland
#WWCTelemundo ¡ Kim Little pone en ventaja a #SCO sobre #ARG! pic.twitter.com/3PPL5jHf7Y
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 19, 2019
Jenny Beattie Goal, ’49 — 2-0 Scotland
#WWCTelemundo ¡Jenny Beattie aumenta la ventaja para #SCO que vence 2-0 a #ARG! pic.twitter.com/xhzKgNAcnB
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 19, 2019
Erin Cuthbert Goal, ’69 — 3-0 Scotland
#WWCTelemundo ! @erincuthbert_ aumenta la ventaja en favor de Escocia! #SCO 3-0 #ARG pic.twitter.com/ll9Z34MVqK
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 19, 2019
Milagros Menéndez Goal, ’74 — 3-1 Scotland
#WWCTelemundo ¡ Milagros Menéndez hace soñar a @Argentina que se acerca en el marcador! #SCO 3-1 #ARG pic.twitter.com/FgLX1jnnOv
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 19, 2019
Flor Bonsegundo Goal, ’79 — 3-2 Scotland
#WWCTelemundo ¡Florencia Bonsegundo marca un golazo e ilusiona a @Argentina ! pic.twitter.com/ipxiH9k3PD
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 19, 2019
Flor Bonsegundo Penalty Kick, ’94 — 3-3 Tie
#WWCTelemundo ¡Histórica remontada de @Argentina! Florencia Bonsegundo de penal empata el marcador en el último minuto #SCO 3-3 #ARG pic.twitter.com/oPhhTW3P3k
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 19, 2019