Argentina’s late goal in extra time seals victory against Switzerland
- Argentina and England to meet in semifinals, after both win in extra time
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It took 120 minutes of grueling, high-stakes drama, but the defending champions are marching on.
A spectacular, long-range moment of magic from Julian Alvarez deep in extra time broke Swiss hearts and propelled Argentina into the World Cup semifinals with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Switzerland. The La Albiceleste victory sets up a highly anticipated, historic semifinal showdown against England on July 15.
A Strong Start and a Sudden Stagnation
Argentina looked poised for a comfortable night when Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in just the 10th minute, meeting a cross with a sharp header to put the champions 1-0 up.
However, complacency settled in. Argentina’s clinical edge vanished, failing to register another shot on target until the 90th minute. Switzerland took full advantage of the holders' passivity, clawing their way back into the match. In the 67th minute, Dan Ndoye silenced the Argentinian faithful, striking a well-deserved equalizer to make it 1-1.
The Turning Point
The momentum swung drastically just five minutes later. In the 72nd minute, Swiss forward Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card and sent off after a VAR review determined he had simulated a foul.
Reduced to 10 men, Switzerland retreated into a deeply organized defensive shell, desperately throwing bodies on the line to force the match into extra time.
For nearly 40 minutes of play, Argentina struggled to exploit the man advantage—until Julian Alvarez took matters into his own hands. In the 111th minute, the forward cut inside and unleashed a stunning, curling effort from long range that bypassed Gregor Kobel and nestled into the back of the net, sparking pandemonium in the stands.
Sealing the Deal
With Switzerland throwing everyone forward in the dying seconds—including midfielder Granit Xhaka retreating to act as a last-line defender—Argentina struck on a lethal three-on-one counterattack.
Thiago Almada’s initial effort was saved, but Lautaro Martinez was perfectly positioned to tap home the rebound in the 121st minute, sealing the 3-1 victory.
The Aftermath: As the final whistle blew, the stadium erupted into a wall of sound. While the Swiss players collapsed to the pitch in total exhaustion and heartbreak, Argentina celebrated a hard-fought step closer to retaining their crown.
Next up is a blockbuster semifinal against England—renewing a historic footballing rivalry for the first time since 2005. (BBC and NBC)
