Argentina
qualified for the quarter finals of the World Cup after beating
Switzerland 1-0 thanks to a dramatic extra time winner form Angel Di
Maria in Sao Paulo tonight in their last 16 encounter.
Argentina who once
again did not look like potential winners started sowly and had to
wait until the 25th minute to create their first
opportunity. Captain Lionel Messi's left footed free kick foot from
the right hand side picked out Gonzalo Higuain but he couldn't keep
his header down.
Switzerland
created the best two chances of the first half. Two minutes after
Higuain's miss the impressive Xherdan Shaqiri got in down the right
and played it back to Xhaka whose shot was on target. However Sergio
Romero managed to save it with his foot.
Otmar Hitzfeld's
side had an even better chance in the 39th minute. After
breaking on the counter attack Shaqiri's brilliant crossfield ball
played in Josip Drmic. The Nuremberg striker only had Sergio Romero
to beat and he decided to try and chip the Argentina goalkeeper but
his effort was tame and it was a comfortable take for Romero.
Five minutes into
the second half Shaqiri was involved again. The Bayern Munich player
got in down the left hand side and pulled it back for Drmic but the
Swiss striker could not keep his effort down.
Lionel Messi
created another opportunity for his team close to the hour mark. He
strode forward and played it to Ezequiel Levezzi. Levezzi's quick
pass picked out Rogo who broke forward from left back. His shot was
on target but straight at Benaglio who pushed it away.
The South American
side came even closer in the 62nd minute. Marcos Rogo's
excellent cross from the left picked out Higuain. The Napoli
striker's header was going in but Bengalio denied him his first goal
of the tournament by tipping it over the bar.
Substitute Rodrigo
Palacio very nearly scored with his first touch in the 75th
minute. Messi was the creator again. The Argentina captain played in
a beautiful ball from the left which picked out Palacio six yards
out. The Inter Milan striker got his head to it but the ball flashed
across the goal and went wide.
Switzerland could
have won it in injury time. Inler's free kick kick from the right
picked out centre back Fabian Schaer eight yards out. He got his head
on it but the effort was too high and the Basel defender held his
head in his hands because he knew that was a chance to win it for his
country.
The game went to
extratime and Argentina had the only chance of the first period.
Lionel Messi's free kick was met by the head of Palacio. The ball
looked destined to end up in the corner of the net but Diego
Benaglio, who had an outstanding game stretched far enough to make
the save.
At the start of
the second period of extratime the Wolfsburg stopper pushed Angel Di
Maria's stinging shot away for a corner.
Just as it looked
as if the game was heading for a penalty shootout Lionel Messi was
the creator for Argentina again. After Wilson Palacio won the ball
back the Argentina captain got away from Schaer and drove at the
heart of a tiring Switzerland defence. As usual the Barcelona player
picked out the right ball. His pass to the right played in Angel Di
Maria who seemed rejuvenated in extra time. The Real Madrid forward
kept his cool and side footed into the net with his left foot.
However
Switzerland weren't prepared to go down without a fight and should
have equalized in the first minute of injury time. Shaqiri's cross
from the left found substitute Bezrim Dezmaili six yards out. He had
a free header and looked certian to score but somehow hit the post.
The rebound came back hit Dezmaili and went wide.
After a late
Shaqiri free hit the Argentina wall referee Jonas Eriksson blew the
final whistle. Once again Lionel Messi was the main inspiration
behind an Argentina victory at this World Cup. Alejandro Sabella's
side will next play either Belgium or United States in the last 8 in
Brasilia on Saturday.
Argentina; Romero;
Zabaleta, Fernandez, Garay, Rogo (Jose Basanta 115); Gago (Lucas
Biglia 106), Mascherano, Di Maria; Lavezzi (Rodrigo Palacio 74),
Messi, Higuain.
Booked; Rogo
(90), Angel Di Maria (120), Garay (120+3).
Switzerland; Benaglio;
Lichsteiner, Djorou, Schaer, Rodriguez; Inler, Xhaka (Gelson
Fernandes 66), Behrami, Shaqiri; Mehmedi (Belrim Dzemaili 113); Drmic
(Haris Seferovic 82).
Booked; Xhaka
(36), Fernandes (73),
Referee; Jonas
Eriksson (Sweeden).
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