ATLANTA — Argentina sealed a dramatic semifinal fightback against England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with two goals in the closing minutes to clinch a 2-1 win and book a World Cup final clash with Spain on Sunday.
The reigning world champions, who won their third title in Qatar four years ago, looked set to be eliminated with England leading well into the dying stages following a second-half goal from Anthony Gordon.
But as so often in this tournament, Argentina responded and Enzo Fernández leveled the scores with a stunning shot from 20 yards in the 85th minute.
Lionel Messi, who assisted the first goal, again played supplier for the second. His cross to the far post was met by substitute Lautaro Martínez, who headed the winning goal into the net from close range in the second minute of stoppage time.
“This is incredible, it’s truly incredible,” Martínez said. “I dreamed it, I swear. I told Alexis [Mac Allister] I was going to score a goal; I told Facu Medina that I was going to come on and win the match.
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“We stretched the team and went all in. We got the goals in the end, and after three-and-a-half years, we’re back in a World Cup final.”
Messi now has 10 assists in the World Cup knockout stage, at least six more than any other player in at least the last 60 years. And the 39-year-old has recorded a goal or assist in 11 straight World Cup games dating back to 2022, extending the longest such streak since at least 1966.
England’s failure to hold onto their lead means the 1966 world champions’ wait for a second World Cup final appearance goes on.
“We’re disappointed, we were so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances,” England coach Thomas Tuchel told the BBC.
“We could not turn the ball possession around and then conceded so many crosses, chances and shots. We were close but couldn’t keep the level up after we scored.”
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The game resumed one of the biggest rivalries in international football, and there was a raucous atmosphere in the stadium even before kickoff as both sets of fans tried to drown out the other team’s national anthem.
That continued on the field in a first half that was repeatedly broken up fouls. A tense first half ended goalless, with no clear chances, but the game opened up after the break.
With their grip on the World Cup loosening, Argentina dominated as they poured forward in search of an equalizer.
Lionel Scaloni’s side were frustrated by poor finishing and the heroics of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who made two crucial saves to keep the Three Lions ahead.
Pickford’s first save was a world-class effort to keep out Nico González in the 69th minute after after the Argentina midfielder had connected with Messi’s pinpoint cross.
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And Everton No. 1 Pickford was the hero again seven minutes later when saved from Alexis Mac Allister, moments after the Liverpool player had struck the post with another effort.
But he could do nothing as Argentina made their pressure pay in the closing minutes.
Following Fernández’s late winner in another stirring comeback against Egypt in the round of 16, Argentina become the first team with multiple game-winning goals in second-half stoppage time a single World Cup.
“This group never ceases to amaze me,” Scaloni said. “What these players demonstrate is incredible. After this, it’s very difficult to try to make people understand what they do on the field.”
“We are unique, and that’s not arrogance. The fans are the ones who carried us to victory.”
Argentina’s clash with Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will be the first World Cup final between the reigning champions of Europe and South America and the first time the two top teams in the FIFA rankings have contested the final since rankings were introduced in 1992.
It will be Argentina’s seventh World Cup final as they seek their fourth title and to join Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) as just the third country to win back-to-back finals.
England will be left to face off with France in Saturday’s third-placed game in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
