'Suffering' Argentina eventually gets the better of 10-man Switzerland

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Late goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez deep into extra time gave Argentina a dramatic quarterfinal win over 10-man Switzerland on Saturday, setting up a heavyweight last-four clash with England in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi's Argentina side kept alive its bid to become the first team to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 with a 3-1 victory that sparked pandemonium among its sea of supporters and ended Switzerland's fairy tale run.

The Swiss had reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1954, but fell a match short of an unprecedented semifinal appearance.

The match looked headed for a shootout, before Alvarez whipped a gorgeous long-range shot into the top corner in the 112th minute that Gregor Kobel, at full-stretch, had no chance of saving.

Martinez added a third for the defending champion nine minutes later, when he calmly slotted home the rebound of Thiago Almada's shot.

Alexis Mac Allister had given Argentina the lead in the 10th minute, meeting Messi's corner at the front post with a flicked header that sailed beyond Kobel and into the far corner.

After a largely uneventful first half, the contest burst into life in the second, as Switzerland repeatedly tested Emiliano Martinez, forcing the Argentina goalkeeper into a string of sharp saves.

As the Swiss piled on the pressure, they were rewarded in the 67th minute, when Dan Ndoye slid a right-footed finish through Martinez's legs.

But, in the 72nd, the Swiss were reduced to 10 men when Breel Embolo got a second yellow card for simulation. It came after a lengthy VAR review for mistaken identity, with the referee overturning his initial decision to caution Argentina's Leandro Paredes. Embolo was inconsolable as he left the pitch.

Argentina responded by pinning Switzerland back for long periods, cheered on by fans who made Arrowhead Stadium feel more like La Bombonera.

Switzerland weathered wave after wave of pressure, but its resistance was finally broken in the closing moments of extra time.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the late nature of the victory was further proof that his team have grown comfortable operating in challenging situations.

"We knew that we were going to suffer, and this is part of our blood, this is part of our DNA, and this brings peace of mind," he said.

"We know what it feels like to be dominated by the opponent, to concede an equalizer, so, today, we kept our composure. The team knew how to remain calm and, of course, we will never give up.

"To reach a semifinal, you need to suffer. You need to go through it."

Swiss coach Murat Yakin, however, was left seething.

"We were punished because of a rule that, in my opinion, is completely unacceptable," he said.

"It's very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don't think we deserve that today, and, in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes; they put all their heart and their passion into their performance. I am very proud. They are very proud."

Even Scaloni acknowledged that "luck was on our side because one of their players was sent off".

Yakin, though, wasn't done with his criticism of Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro: "The referee made the wrong decision. It was, in my opinion, a harmless foul, if it even was a foul. I know they will protect their referee, but this rule destroyed our game today."

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