Julian Alvarez scored as Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 to set up a World Cup semi-final against England.
Lionel Messi and Co take on the Three Lions in Atlanta on Wednesday at 8pm UK time, with a place in the final against France or Spain on the line.
It will be the first international competition in 24 years.
Although Switzerland started well in Kansas City, they had only themselves to blame when they fell behind within 10 minutes. Alexis Mac Allister was twice given a corner – and the second time he punished them, heading them in after being picked out by Messi.
Breel Embolo had the most promising chance for the Swiss in the first half, but a combination of Lisandro and Emi Martinez prevented him from getting a shot inside the box. He had a great chance to equalize shortly after the restart, but a world-class block from Lisandro Martinez denied him.
Dan Ndoye’s equalizer forced extra time
Dan Ndoye and Granit Xhaka then forced a save from the Argentine goalkeeper after intense pressure, which finally paid off when the former connected well with Ricardo Rodriguez and fired home to tie the game.
Breel Embolo has been released under new mistaken identity laws
Switzerland’s happiness was short-lived. Five minutes after the equaliser, Leandro Paredes was booked for fouling Embolo – but under the new false identification rules, VAR recommended a review and referee Joao Pinheiro instead showed Embolo a second yellow card for his conduct.
Messi and Mac Allister both had chances to win it for Argentina before the final whistle, but couldn’t find a way to prevent extra time.
Lautaro Martinez added Argentina’s third
Although Switzerland managed to hold off the reigning world champions in the first 15 minutes, Julian Alvarez’s superb strike from 25 yards, into the top right corner, took the wind out of their sails. Lautaro Martinez added luster to the dying coals, and at that moment, the Swiss race was on.
Highlights from Kansas City
- 10: GOAL! Messi delivers Argentina’s second corner in quick succession and finds Alexis Mac Allister, who scores an unmarked goal.
- 32: GREAT OPPORTUNITY! Switzerland’s Breel Embolo is sent clear, but Lisandro Martinez and Emi Martinez combine to stop him from getting a shot.
- 43: THE SUBSTANCE! Remo Freuler stands over the free-kick in a promising position on the left, but he goes to honor despite four men waiting in the box and misses the target by some distance.
- 50: BLOCK IT! Amazing from Lisandro Martinez, who recovered to deny Embolo a certain goal.
- 67: GOAL! Dan Ndoye plays a good one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez and shoots under Emi Martinez from close range.
- 72: RED CARD! Embolo is shown a second yellow card for acting under the new mistaken identity rules.
- 89: OPPORTUNITY! Mac Allister meets Nico Gonzalez’s cross, but heads over from six yards.
- 112: GOAL! Julian Alvarez scored to restore Argentina’s lead.
- 120+1: GOAL! Lautaro Martinez added the icing on the cake after Thiago Almada’s early shot went wide.
Argentina have been put into extra time twice – will that affect them vs England?
Sky Sports’ Dan Long:
Against the reigning world champions, Switzerland were always up against them in their bid to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the first time. But they certainly made it difficult for Lionel Scaloni’s side.
The Swiss deserved their equalizer and could have even forced a win, had Breel Embolo not been sent off. He was not comforted when he was given his marching orders and for good reason. His dismissal was a game changer.
Once extra time was guaranteed, they were content to sit back and try and enforce a lottery penalty. Unfortunately for them, that’s when Argentina came to life.
But England will probably be happy to see their next opponents pushed all the way. It is the second time in three games that they have been sent to overtime. If Enzo Fernandez had not scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute against Egypt in the last-16, it would have been three out of three.
Whether or not that affects Argentina in the semi-finals is up for debate, but with England having played another 30 minutes against Norway, at least the playing field will be level on Wednesday night in Atlanta.
