\t\t\t\t\tOverview:<\/p>\n
Julian Alvarez scored in the 112th minute to snap a 1-1 tie and start Argentina to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Switzerland in the World Cup quarterfinals at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Lionel Messi set up Argentina\u2019s first goal on a corner kick. (Jon von Woerden Photo)<\/p>\n
Julian Alvarez scored in the 112th minute to snap a 1-1 tie and start Argentina to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Switzerland in the World Cup quarterfinals at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Alvarez took Jose Lopez\u2019s short pass and sent a curling, 25-yard drive into the right corner past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to score the deciding goal.<\/p>\n
Lautaro Martinez added a third goal a minute into extra-time injury time for the defending champions.<\/p>\n
The Swiss were forced to play the final 48 minutes a man down after forward Breel Embolo was slapped with his second yellow card of the match in the 72nd minute before he was issued a red card seconds later. Embolo already had a first-half yellow for roughing.<\/p>\n
The Europeans defended valiantly until the second extra time.<\/p>\n
Argentina\u2019s win set up a confrontation with long-time rival England in the semifinals in Atlanta on Wednesday. England booked a spot in the final four with a 2-1 extra-time triumph over Norway earlier in the day.<\/p>\n
The South Americans continued to barely pull out wins in the knockout phrase. They got past World Cup debutantes and minnows Cape Verde with a 3-2 extra-time victory in the Round of 32. They then defeated Egypt by the same score on a goal by Enzo Fernandez two minutes into stoppage time.<\/p>\n
And now this win.<\/p>\n
For the first time in this World Cup, Argentina forward Lionel Messi failed to score a goal.<\/p>\n
Messi\u2019s ninth-minute corner kick set up Alexis Mac Allister\u2019s header from close range to boost the South American side into the lead in the ninth minute. It was Messi\u2019s 10th World Cup assist.<\/p>\n
Messi is tied with France striker Kylian Mbappe for the Golden Boot race with eight goals apiece.<\/p>\n
Embolo was the Swiss\u2019 most dangerous player early in the second half, but he could not solve goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.<\/p>\n
Then again, neither could his teammates.<\/p>\n
Martinez made a pair of excellent back-to-back saves. He denied Dan Ndoye\u2019s header in the 65th minute and then produced another superb save on Granit Xhaka\u2019s shot from distance a minute later.<\/p>\n
Finally, in the 67th minute, the Swiss scored as Dan Ndoye slipped home Ricardo Rodriguez\u2019s feed into the lower right corner to knot things up at 1-1.<\/p>\n
Then came Embolo\u2019s ejection, which changed the complexion of the match.<\/p>\n
Switzerland switched its strategy, trying to play for penalty kicks. That was a long way off, but the Europeans managed to reach the two extra-time periods. In the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time, Kobel denied Lisandro Martinez, who volleyed a shot from inside the box.<\/p>\n
You can\u2019t enjoy the World Cup without reading Michael Lewis\u2019 book:<\/p>\n
Around the World Cup in 40 Years, An American sportswriter\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how you can purchase the book:<\/p>\n
It\u2019s available on Amazon for $29.95, and it\u2019s available here:<\/p>\n
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