Alvarez's extra-time strike sends Argentina past 10-man Switzerland into a semifinal with England
Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez score in extra time as the defending champions edge a resilient Switzerland 3-1 in Kansas City to reach the last four.
Argentina survived a fierce test from ten-man Switzerland to win their World Cup quarterfinal 3-1 after extra time in Kansas City, keeping the defending champions on course to retain their crown.
The holders started brightly at Arrowhead Stadium, where 69,045 fans, many in Lionel Messi's number ten, packed the stands on a hot and humid Missouri night. Argentina led inside ten minutes when Alexis Mac Allister headed home a Messi corner. It was the 39-year-old's tenth career World Cup assist, each one laid on for a different teammate.
Switzerland refused to fold. Dan Ndoye curled a fine finish from a tight angle in the 67th minute to level, and for a spell the underdogs looked the more dangerous side. The tie swung on the 72nd minute, when a VAR review saw Breel Embolo shown a second yellow for simulation and sent off.
Down to ten, Switzerland dug in and dragged the game into extra time, their organisation pointing toward a penalty shootout. Then Julian Alvarez settled it. In the 112th minute the forward lashed a right-footed shot into the far upper corner for his first World Cup goal for Argentina, a strike he called a huge release of emotion. Lautaro Martinez added a third late on to make the scoreline safe.
The win sets up a heavyweight semifinal against England, who also needed extra time on Saturday to see off Norway. The two meet Wednesday in Atlanta, while Spain face France in the other semifinal in Dallas on Tuesday. For Argentina and Messi, chasing back-to-back titles, the road to the final is down to one more step at a time.
