Salvador (Brazil), July 2:
Belgium defeated United States of America 2-1 in a pulsating contest, while Angel Di Maria came to Argentina’s rescue in the dying minutes of extra-time to set up a quarterfinal clash against each other in the FIFA World Cup.
Kevin De Bruyne and substitute Romelu Lukaku’s scored two goals in the first half of extra-time before teenager Julian Green, who came in the second period of extra-time, reduced the deficit for USA with his first touch.
Belgium will now face two-time champions Argentina in the quarterfinals in Brasilia on Saturday after the La Albiceleste’s rode on a goal from Di Maria deep into additional time to beat Switzerland 1-0 in Sao Paulo in another last-16 match.
After both Belgium and and USA failed to break the stalemate in regulation time, it took a super effort from De Bruyne to open the scoring in the 92nd minute. The Wolfsburg midfielder leapt onto Lukaku’s assist to fire low into the corner.
Lukaku then doubled the lead in the 106th minute, this time with an assist from De Bruyne, to put the game beyound USA’s reach.
But USA did not give up without a fight and fired back when Bayern Munich teenager Green pulled one back with a first-time volley from a Michael Bradley pass.
Belgium had to go through some nervous moments in the final 10 minutes of the match but did enough to hold on to their slender lead.
Earlier Di Maria’s scored a late extra-time goal to help Argentina eke out a hard-fought 1-0 win over Switzerland and progress to the quarterfinals.
He didn’t score today but four-time world footballer of the year and skipper Lionel Messi set up Di Maria for the only goal of the match deep into extra-time after both the teams were tied 0-0 in regulation 90 minutes.
As expected Argentina controlled the lions share of possession in the match but their strikers failed breach the stubborn Swiss defence.
The game plan for the Swiss was to mark Messi closely and create chances in counter-attack. They managed to do that for most part of the game before the Argentine skipper came up with a brilliant run to set it up for Di Maria who made no mistake in finding the back of the net with a left-footer in the 118th minute.
A goalless draw seemed inevitable until Messi produced one of his patented dribbles to set up Di Maria.
After the change of ends it was all Argentina as they exerted relentless pressure on the Swiss defence with persistent attacks.
Marcos Rojo broke into the left of the Swiss penalty area but fired straight at Diego Benaglio before Gonzalo Higuain’s close-range header was acrobatically tipped over by the Swiss goalie.
Rodrigo Palacio, who came in for Ezequiel Lavezzi with just 16 minutes remaining, was straight in action as he within seconds headed a Messi cross wide from six yards out.
Swiftly, Messi gathered a poor clearance on the edge of the box, side-stepped his marker and fires a low drive, which Benaglio did well to first keep out and then jump on amid flying boots.
The game was heading for a penalty shoot-out, until Messi produced one of his mesmerising dribbles and teed up Di Maria, whose first-time strike curled around the arm of the diving Benaglio into the bottom corner.
A minute later, the Swiss almost equalised as Blerim Dzemali’s header struck the post and then the rebound rolled wide after hitting him.
Switzerland earned a free kick just outside the Argentine box in the last minute of additional time but Shaqiri’s shot was blocked by the wall.
Earlier, it took 15 minutes for Argentina to get a shot at Switzerland goal but Messi’s shot was comfortably gathered by the Swiss keeper.
Di Maria then won a free-kick for the Argentines in the 25th minute after being fouled by Admir Mehmedi but Messi’s ball into the area was headed well over by Higuain.
After sitting back for most part of the first half, Switzerland had the best chance to break the deadlock in the 29th minute when Granit Xhaka forced Argentina keeper Sergio Romero to make a fine save with a crisply-struck shot before Stephan Lichtsteiner’s effort is kept out.
Argentina responded quickly from a break but Higuain’s tame shot was easily gathered by in front of Swiss goal.
Ezequiel Garay then narrowly failed to connect a corner by Angel Di Maria to give Argentine the lead.
Just five minutes from half time Switzerland missed a great chance when Xherdan Shaqiri found Josip Drmic unmarked with a defence-splitting pass by the later’s effort to chip in to the goal was easily pounced by an advancing Argentine keeper Sergio Romero. (PTI)
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