Julian Alvarez sent defending champion Argentina into the World Cup semifinals with a long-range strike in the 112th minute against Switzerland, while another goal by Lautaro Martinez with seconds left in extra time only served to make the 3-1 victory look a whole lot easier than it was Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Alexis Mac Allister also scored off a corner kick from Lionel Messi, helping La Albiceleste gut out another down-to-the-wire thriller and advance to play England on Wednesday in Atlanta. The Three Lions beat Norway 2-1 earlier in the day<\/a>.<\/p>\n Messi’s nine-game World Cup scoring streak ended, but his pursuit of a second World Cup title continues.<\/p>\n The game swung in the second half on a call sure to rile up critics who believe Argentina has been favoured in this tournament.<\/p>\n The Swiss had just tied the game on Dan Ndoye’s goal in the 67th minute when Leandro Paredes was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Breel Embolo. But video showed the Swiss player falling before the Argentina midfielder made contact with him, and since Embolo received a yellow card earlier in the match, he was sent off and Switzerland left to defend with 10 players.<\/p>\n It was the second time a yellow card has been overturned using the \u201cmistaken identity\u201d protocol at the World Cup. The rule allows the video assistant referee to intervene when an incorrect player is shown a yellow or red card.<\/p>\n