A little slice of Lionel Messi magic was all it took to unlock a stubborn Switzerland as Argentina earned a bruising 1-0 victory over Switzerland via an Angel Di Maria extra time goal.
The Barcelona-Real Madrid combo unlocked a stubborn Switzerland, who had hitherto frustrated Argentina to the brink of penalty shoot-outs with a disciplined team performance and an inform goalkeeper.
The penultimate second round tie pitted the South American giants against the homeland of FIFA President Sepp Blatter with a place in the last eight at stake.
Argentina has not had the best of tournaments so far, but then neither had the Swiss; and despite not being at his best Lionel Messi has scored four goals already in this tournament. The four time world player of the year started upfront with Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain.
A half with chances coming few and far between saw Argentina having the bulk of possession whilst Switzerland hit them on the break with swift counter attacks, but neither side could break the deadlock in by the end of the first period.
Argentina kept the ball well, but breaking through was a challenge. Twice Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio rushed off his line, to scoop up poorly weighted crosses from Messi and Zabaleta, causing little trouble for his side.
Gonzalo Higuain headed over an Angel Di Maria free-kick, whilst another header, this time from Garay off a corner missed the post by inches. Di Maria was causing trouble for Switzerland with his delivery, and in the 39th minute a powerful cross missed both Messi and Lavessi, another similar cross saved by Benaglio before it could cause any harm in the box.
For all their dominance it was Switzerland who fashioned the best chances, and twice the European side should have taken the lead. Xherdan Shaqiri glided swiftly into the box with some neat step-overs, his cut back fell to Xhaka but his shot was well saved by the legs of Argentina keeper Sergio Romero.
The second, more glaring chance fell to lone forward Josip Drmic in the 38th minute. A long pass saw him in lots of space, but with Romero stranded Drmic decided to go for the chip, and his woeful effort floated easily into the hands of Romero.
The second half began much as the first and Argentina was on the attack almost immediately as they searched for the ever elusive winner.
Shaqiri remained ever vigilant on the break for Switzerland, but it was from a set piece that he almost gave his side the lead; Romero having to stretch to full length to tip his effort out of the top right corner.
Argentina remained the better side, creating the better opportunities. And once again, as has so often been the case this tournament, an in-form goalkeeper kept his side in the game.
In quick succession Benaglio had to make two world class saves to save Switzerland’s blushes. The first was from a shot by Argentina left back Rojo, a powerful effort which Benaglio saved despite looking like the ball had already whisked by him. Four minutes later, Higuain’s header from a Rojo cross seemed destined for the net, but Benaglio again kept Switzerland in the game.
As always huge expectations lay on the shoulders of Lionel Messi, and the Argentina skipper showed flashes of his brilliance occasionally. He had a shot go over in the 69th minute, whilst a dangerous cross was wasted by substitute Rodrigo Palacio. But it was in the 89th minute that he showed his usual self, almost singlehandedly giving his side the lead.
A solo run saw him skip several challenges, and he somehow got himself into the box, flicked the ball to Palacio but the connection was late, saving Switzerland’s blushes and ensuring for the 4th time in seven second round games, extra time was needed to break the tie.
Nothing changed much in extra time, with both sides trying to get the winner but creating little clear cut chances.
In the final minute of first half extra time, Argentina had a great counter attack but Di Maria wasted it, sending a poor pass towards Higuain that was intercepted.
The second half of extra-time was more intriguing, as Argentina made their last ditch efforts for the winner. Benaglio was still having none of that, saving Di Maria’s ferocious effort in the 108th minute and anticipating various crosses which he all saved comfortably.
It all came to nought in the end though, as once again another side was undone by a little slice of Messi magic.
The diminutive forward went on a run that was unstoppable, then set up Angel Di Maria on the edge of the box, whose first time effort finally beat Benaglio as the Swiss defence collapsed on piles onto the ground.
There was almost a sting in the tail though, as Blerim Dzemailli headed Shaqiri’s cross onto the crossbar, then the rebound hit his leg inadvertently with the gaping post at his mercy, going wide.
A frenzied final three minutes saw Switzerland throwing everything forward, but Argentina held on to secure the hard fought victory and passage into the quarter finals.