Alvarez, Martinez send Argentina into World Cup semifinals

KANSAS CITY — Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored in extra time as Argentina advanced to the World Cup semifinals on Saturday with a 3-1 win over 10-man Switzerland.

Alexis Mac Allister put the defending champion ahead, but Dan Ndoye equalised before Breel Embolo was sent off with 18 minutes of normal time remaining.

Alvarez and Martinez struck in the second half of extra time as Argentina set up a clash with England in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Switzerland sought to assert itself early, dictating the tempo through Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler as Argentina was pushed back into its own half.

But it was the Albiceleste that struck first when Mac Allister met Lionel Messi's corner at the near post and nodded into the far corner.

Referee Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro (1st R) shows a yellow card to Breel Embolo of Switzerland (4th R). (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Clear chances were scarce as the match became increasingly physical. Leandro Paredes hacked down Djibril Sow before Embolo responded in kind minutes later, bringing down the Boca Juniors midfielder with a late tackle that earned him a yellow card.

Argentina's lack of width was evident as it repeatedly attacked through the middle, where Switzerland's compact defence held firm.

Switzerland emerged with greater urgency after the break. Embolo's cross appeared to send Ndoye through on goal, but Lisandro Martinez intervened with a superb last-ditch tackle to deny the Nottingham Forest forward.

Ndoye then met Ricardo Rodriguez's cross with a header that drew a smart save from Emiliano Martinez, who also kept out Xhaka's long-range attempt moments later.

But the Aston Villa goalkeeper was powerless to stop the equaliser as Ndoye combined again with Rodriguez on the edge of the box and fired into the far corner from a tight angle.

Switzerland's momentum was short-lived as Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation following a VAR review. The decision overturned the referee's earlier booking of Paredes for a foul.

The South American team regained the initiative, and Mac Allister headed over after Lisandro Martinez's cross before Messi thumped a 20-yard shot just wide of the far post.

Lisandro Martinez then latched onto Zeki Amdouni's clearance with an acrobatic scissor kick that was stopped by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as the match went to extra time.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni introduced Thiago Almada for Enzo Fernandez, and the substitute tested Kobel with a low drive before firing into the side netting moments later.

But it was Alvarez who broke the deadlock in the 112th minute with a curling effort into the far corner that left Kobel with no chance.

Substitute Martinez made it 3-1 nine minutes later, bundling into an empty net after Almada's attempt was blocked by Kobel.