Photo: Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring the winner for Argentina over Switzerland. (Getty Images)
Just weeks after helping Real Madrid lift the Champions League trophy, Angel Di Maria came up with a priceless goal in extra time for his country Argentina to seal a 1-0 over Switzerland. The 26 year old was causing problems for most of the match but had no joy until he was set-up by his captain Lionel Messi after a trademark burst through midfield.
The Argentines dominated proceedings as Di Maria started like a man on a mission. As early as the 6th minute he got passed Stephan Lichtsteiner and was blatantly pulled back by the Juventus wing back, who surprisingly escaped a booking. Messi first threatened in the 13th minute when he got the better of Valon Behrami but his through ball to Gonzalo Higuain was just out of the reach of the Napoli striker. Argentina was possessing the ball but could not create any serious chance in front of goal.
Granit Xhaka got the game’s first genuine chance on 28 minutes when Xherdan Shaqiri got the better of Fernando Gago down the right and picked him out with a low cross. The Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder saw his shot saved brilliantly by Sergio Romero in goal for La Albiceleste. Just two minutes later Ezequiel Lavezzi got a sight at goal after Higuain tussled with Fabian Schar in the penalty area. The loose ball fell to Lavezzi but his shot went straight at Diego Benaglio. Josip Drmic should have scored on 39 minutes after being played in behind the defense by Shaqiri. He tried to chip Romero but it went straight into the goalkeeper’s gloves and the half ended goalless.
Argentina almost got through two minutes after the restart but Lavezzi was denied by Johan Djourou’s challenge. Marcos Rojo tested Benaglio on 58 minutes after Messi set him up but his shot was beaten away by the Wolfsburg man. Higuain got close on 63 minutes from a Rojo cross but Benaglio managed to push the ball over the bar for a corner. It was all Argentina as they pushed and probed, trying to get pass the Swiss defense.
Messi was just inches over the bar with his effort on 69 minutes after a Swiss clearance fell to the Barcelona man just outside the penalty area. The Argentina number 10 then provided a chance for substitute Rodrigo Palacio but the Inter Milan striker headed wide while unchallenged. Two minutes later Benaglio denied Messi after he skipped passed Behrami and unleashed a shot low to the keeper’s right. In the 90th minute, Messi drove at the heart of the Swiss defense and passed to Palacio whose touch let him down and allowed Schar to clear the danger ending the match 0-0 after 90 minutes.
The first chance of extra time fell to Ezequiel Garay when Di Maria whipped in a dangerous corner but the Zenit defender couldn’t get the better of Benaglio on 92 minutes. Argentina again was dominant but could not get a clear sight of goal as they struggled to find that bit of quality in the final third. The first half of extra time flew by with neither team able to create anything in front of goal.
Benaglio came up big again on 108 minutes when Di Maria cuts inside onto his favourite left foot from the right side but saw his effort beaten away by the keeper. The deadlock was finally broken by Di Maria in the 118th minute. Palacio stole the ball off Lichtsteiner and passed inside to Messi who got passed Schar beautifully and lay the ball off to Di Maria on the right. The Madrid winger then caressed his left footed effort into the bottom corner beyond the outstretched hand of Benaglio. Di Maria got another chance on the counter in stoppage time of extra time but his effort at an empty net went just wide.
Switzerland got a chance to equalize with the last kick of the game from a free kick just out side the penalty area. Shaqiri went for a curling effort but it was blocked by the wall and the referee blew his whistle and send the Argentine bench into wild celebrations. It was a very close and intense encounter that could have gone either way. In the end the quality of Messi and Di Maria was enough to see Argentina through to the quarter-finals.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login