Lautaro Martínez scored in the 120th minute of extra time to send Argentina past Switzerland 3-1 in a World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, securing the defending champions’ place in the semi-finals at Kansas City Stadium.
Alexis Mac Allister had opened the scoring for Argentina in the 10th minute with a header from a Lionel Messi corner, but Switzerland equalized through Dan Ndoye in the 67th minute to force the match into extra time.
The turning point came in the 72nd minute when Switzerland’s Breel Embolo was sent off after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, reducing the Swiss to 10 men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Switzerland held firm until the second half of extra time.
Extra-Time Drama Seals Argentina’s Advance
Julián Álvarez broke the deadlock in the 112th minute with a stunning long-range strike from outside the box, curling the ball into the top corner to restore Argentina’s lead at 2-1. Martínez then sealed the victory moments later in the 120th minute, firing a right-footed shot from the center of the box to make it 3-1.
According to Reuters, Argentina survived their third consecutive dramatic knockout match of the tournament while keeping alive their bid to win back-to-back World Cup titles. The victory marks a significant achievement for the defending champions, who have now progressed through the quarter-finals despite facing determined opposition.
Argentina will now face England in the semi-finals on Wednesday in Atlanta, according to Reuters. The English side advanced to the last four by defeating Norway 2-1 after extra time in their own quarter-final clash.
Sources
- Reuters — confirmed final score of 3-1, goal scorers and minutes, Switzerland’s red card, and Argentina’s advancement to semi-finals against England
- KGOU — reported Álvarez’s 112th-minute goal and Argentina’s advancement to World Cup semi-finals
- VAVEL.com — detailed Martínez’s 120+1′ goal and match progression
- FIFA — official match details including goal times and Argentina’s semi-final qualification
