Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in a World Cup quarterfinal at Kansas City Stadium, advancing to a semifinal meeting with England after Switzerland played the closing stages with 10 men.

Switzerland applied pressure early, winning possession and creating openings without turning them into goals. Argentina instead struck in the 10th minute. Lionel Messi delivered a corner toward the near post and Alexis Mac Allister headed it in, giving the defending side an early advantage. The assist was Messi’s second of the tournament and the 10th of his World Cup career, according to The Chosun Daily.

The Swiss response gathered strength after halftime. Dan Ndoye first directed a header at the goalkeeper in the 65th minute, then equalized two minutes later. Attacking from the flank, he used a two-against-one situation to enter the penalty area and finish low, bringing the score to 1-1.

Momentum shifted again in the 69th minute. Breel Embolo went down after contact with Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, and the referee initially showed Paredes a yellow card. A video review reversed that decision, with Embolo judged to have exaggerated the incident in an attempt to win a foul. Because he had already been booked in the first half, the new yellow card was his second and Switzerland were reduced to 10 players.

Neither team scored during the remainder of regulation, sending the match into extra time. Argentina used the numerical advantage to control more of the play, while Switzerland defended deep against repeated attacks. The breakthrough arrived seven minutes into the second period of extra time. From outside the penalty area on the right, Julián Álvarez curled a shot beyond a diving Gregor Kobel and into the corner.

Argentina added a third goal in stoppage time. Thiago Almada was denied in a one-on-one chance, but Lautaro Martínez collected the rebound and finished to settle the contest at 3-1. The result ended Switzerland’s resistance and secured Argentina’s place among the final four.

The semifinal was scheduled for July 16 at Atlanta Stadium, with England standing between Argentina and another World Cup final. Messi’s early delivery supplied the statistical landmark in the victory, while the match itself turned on Switzerland’s equalizer, Embolo’s dismissal and Argentina’s ability to make the extra player count late in extra time.

The quarterfinal’s progression put different forms of pressure on both teams. Switzerland recovered from an early concession and found an equalizer, but Embolo’s second booking changed the numerical balance. Argentina then had to work through a deep defense before Álvarez and Martínez converted the late opportunities that carried the side into the semifinals.