Argentina edge 10-man Switzerland in extra time, set up England semifinal
Lionel Messi's Argentina survived a Swiss scare and a nervy walk through extra time to book their place in the World Cup semifinals, coming from behind to win 3-1 in Kansas on Sunday.
Argentina made the perfect start inside 10 minutes, when Messi swung in a delicious corner from the left, and Alexis Mac Allister rose highest to glance a header past Gregor Kobel into the top corner.
The goal was Argentina's fastest of the tournament and the first time Switzerland had trailed at any point across their entire World Cup campaign. It also brought up Messi's tenth World Cup assist, two more than any other player.
The first half otherwise offered little in the way of clear chances, with Argentina content to sit on their lead while Switzerland struggled to find a way through a well-organised defence.
Switzerland emerged transformed after the break, growing into the contest and finally making their dominance count. Dan Ndoye levelled in the 67th minute, latching onto a return pass before curling a fine finish into the far corner from a tight angle.
The momentum swung again just five minutes later. Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card following a VAR review that adjudged he had dived under a challenge from Leandro Paredes, leaving Switzerland to play out the remainder with 10 men.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Switzerland held firm through a tense finish to normal time, forcing the contest into extra time with the scores locked at 1-1.
Argentina laid siege to the Swiss goal for much of the additional 30 minutes, with Kobel called upon repeatedly to deny Lisandro Martínez and Thiago Almada as the pressure built.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 112th minute. Julian Alvarez collected the ball on the edge of the box after Kobel had parried a Messi effort, and curled a stunning strike into the top corner. It was Alvarez's first goal of the tournament.
Switzerland pushed men forward in search of a second equaliser, but found themselves picked off on the counter deep into stoppage time.
Substitute Lautaro Martinez raced through the middle after Alvarez won the ball back, feeding Almada into the box. His effort was saved by Kobel, but the ball fell kindly for Lautaro to slot home from close range and settle the tie.
The full-time whistle confirmed a dramatic 3-1 victory, sending the reigning champions through to face England in the semifinal on July 15.
Thomas Tuchel's England had earlier booked their own spot in the last four, beating Norway 2-1 in extra time courtesy of a Jude Bellingham winner.
For Switzerland, appearing in their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954, the exit will sting given their resistance for long periods against the tournament favourites.