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Kansas City: Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored in extra time as Argentina defeated 10-man Switzerland 3-1 at Kansas City Stadium, securing a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals after a hard-fought quarterfinal.
Argentina netted in their 15th successive World Cup game. The only teams with longer scoring streaks in the competition are Uruguay (16 games from 1930 to 1962), Hungary (17 games from 1934 to 1962), Germany (18 games from 1986 to 1998), Germany (18 games from 1934 to 1958) and Brazil (18 games from 1930 to 1958).
Lionel Scaloni’s side will now face fierce rivals England in the second semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday.
At the start, 10 minutes into the game, Argentina struck after a corner from the left with a good cross from Leo Messi, which was well connected with a header by Alexis Mac Allister to make it 1-0.
The first half was full of friction, with a lot of fighting in midfield and no major excitement in either penalty area, which meant that Scaloni’s team went into the locker room with a narrow lead.
The second half began with the Swiss team pressing forward in search of an equaliser. Emiliano Martinez had to make two saves to keep a clean sheet. However, after a one-two on the edge of the area, Dan Ndoye finished with a shot that curled inside the box to make it 1-1.
In the 72nd minute, Switzerland were reduced to 10 men after Breel Embolo was sent off, receiving a second yellow card after a VAR review for diving in midfield.
With the extra man, Argentina dominated possession of the ball and could have won it at the end with a great bicycle kick from Lisandro Martinez, well saved by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
In extra time, Argentina searched for a breakthrough, moving the ball from side to side, but space remained elusive. Then Alvarez found it: he cut inside from left to right, unleashed a shot from the edge of the box, and buried it in the top corner for 2-1.
But there was more to come: after a lethal counter-attack, Martinez pounced on a rebound inside the area and tapped it in to seal the 3-1 victory and secure the semifinal clash against England.
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–IANS
