Argentina strike late in extra time to sink 10-man Swiss and reach World Cup semis

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, July 11 : Argentina's Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored deep in extra time to secure a dramatic 3-1 quarter-final win over 10-man Switzerland on Saturday and set up a heavyweight last-four clash against England in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi's Argentina side kept alive their bid to become the first team to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 with a victory that sparked pandemonium among the sea of sky-blue-and-white supporters and ended Switzerland's fairytale run.

The Swiss had reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, but fell one match short of an unprecedented semi-final appearance, suffering a major blow when Breel Embolo was sent off for diving in the 72nd minute.

The thriller - Kansas City's final World Cup game - looked headed for a shootout before Alvarez, excellent all night, 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 holders nine minutes later when he calmly slotted home the rebound of Thiago Almada's shot.

"We're used to suffering," Almada said. "We come from being champions and now being among the top four is not easy at all. We want to chase glory and put Argentina at the very top."

ARGENTINA TAKE EARLY LEAD

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. It was the first time Switzerland had trailed in the tournament.

But the Swiss - without injured leading scorer Johan Manzambi, who had three goals and two assists - refused to wilt.

After a largely uneventful first half, the contest burst into