Atlanta, July 17: Argentina produced a sensational late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night, scoring twice in the closing stages to book its place in the World Cup final.
England took the lead in the 55th minute through Anthony Gordon after an evenly contested first half.
The European side defended resolutely for much of the second half and looked set to secure its first World Cup final appearance since 1966.
However, Argentina turned the match around in dramatic fashion during the final minutes.
In the 83rd minute, Enzo Fernández equalised with a powerful long-range strike after being set up by Lionel Messi, bringing the South American side back into the contest.
With the momentum firmly in its favour, Argentina continued to press for a winner.
Substitute Lautaro MartÃnez completed the comeback in stoppage time, scoring in the 90+2nd minute to seal a 2-1 victory and send Argentina into the final.
According to the match statistics, England struggled to retain possession after taking the lead, allowing Argentina to dominate the game and create sustained pressure during the closing stages.
The semi-final was played at a high intensity, with several physical challenges and heated exchanges between players from both teams, reflecting the importance of the occasion.
The victory sends Argentina into its 13th FIFA World Cup final, where it will aim to capture a fourth world title and add to its previous triumphs in 1978, 1986, and 2022.
Argentina’s remarkable fightback will be remembered as one of the tournament’s most dramatic moments, while England’s hopes of reaching the final ended despite holding the lead for much of the second half.
