Argentina beats Switzerland 1-0 after extra time

Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri, left, and Argentina’s Ezequiel Garay go for a header during their World Cup round of 16 soccer match at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. AP PHOTO/KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH

SAO PAULO, Brazil—Angel Di Maria scored in the 118th minute Tuesday to give Argentina a 1-0 win over Switzerland after extra time and a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals.

With a penalty shootout looming, Lionel Messi made a surging run toward the Swiss area and laid the ball off to Di Maria on the right, and the winger sent a left-foot shot past diving goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.

Blerim Dzemaili nearly equalized right before the end but his header hit the post, and the rebound bounced off his knee and wide of the goal.

Benaglio had previously kept Switzerland in the game when got a hand on Di Maria’s shot in 109th minute.

Argentina will play the winner of Belgium and the United States.–Karl Ritter

 

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