- After Extra Time
- Lautaro Martínez120 + 1'
- 115'R. Vargas on for R. Freuler
- J. López114'
- J. Alvarez112'
- J. López on for L. Paredes110'
- N. Otamendi on for C. Romero105'
- Extra Time — First Half
- Lautaro Martínez98'
- T. Almada97'
- 96'A. Jashari on for D. Zakaria
- T. Almada on for E. Fernández90'
- Full Time
- 90 + 5'E. Cömert on for R. Rodríguez
- 86'M. Muheim on for F. Rieder
- 86'Z. Amdouni on for D. Ndoye
- 86'S. Widmer on for D. Sow
- G. Montiel on for N. Molina85'
- Lautaro Martínez on for R. De Paul85'
- N. González on for N. Tagliafico78'
- 72'B. Embolo
- L. Paredes Mistaken identity71'
- 67'D. Ndoye
- Half Time
- 44'B. Embolo
- A. Mac Allister10'
- Kick Off
-
1
Lautaro Martínez1 - 2Julián Alvarez1
- 3Alexis Mac Allister1
- 1Alexis Mac Allister4
- 2Lionel Messi4
- 3Thiago Almada3
- 1Cristian Romero2
- 2Julián Alvarez2
- 3Lionel Messi2
- 1José Manuel López1
- 2
Ricardo Rodríguez1 - 3Lionel Messi1
- 1Lionel Messi6
- 2Ricardo Rodríguez3
- 3Lautaro Martínez2
- 1Leandro Paredes112
- 2Granit Xhaka66
- 3Lisandro Martínez65
- 1Lionel Messi5
- 2Lisandro Martínez3
- 3Dan Ndoye2
- 1Alexis Mac Allister4
- 2Denis Zakaria2
- 3Rodrigo De Paul2
Julian Alvarez scored an extra-time stunner as defending champions Argentina defeated 10-man Switzerland 3-1 at Arrowhead Stadium, setting up a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against arch-rivals England.
The quarter-final match in Kansas City promised high drama, with the reigning champions looking to preserve their 12-match tournament unbeaten run while a defiant Switzerland aimed for their first-ever final-four appearance.
Lionel Scaloni named a formidable attacking lineup, with the legendary Lionel Messi starting alongside Alvarez up front. The strategy paid off in just the 10th minute when Messi curled a precise corner to Alexis Mac Allister, who rose to glance a firm header into the far corner.
Switzerland found their footing in the second half, heavily testing Emiliano Martinez before Dan Ndoye swept home a deserved 67th-minute equaliser following a slick pass from Ricardo Rodriguez. However, the game swung on a controversial VAR call five minutes later: Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation under new mistaken identity guidelines, reducing the Swiss to 10 men.
The European side heroically repelled constant waves of pressure to force extra time. But Argentina finally broke their stubborn resistance in the 112th minute when Alvarez picked up the ball and unleashed a magnificent 25-yard curler into the top right corner.
Lautaro Martinez then sealed the victory on the counter deep in stoppage time, tapping in a rebound to confirm Argentina’s pursuit of back-to-back crowns remains firmly alive.
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