Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Semi Final - England v Argentina - Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - July 15 Argentina's Lautaro Martinez scores their second goal. (Reuters/Dylan Martinez)
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ATLANTA — Holders Argentina beat England 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the World Cup final where they will face Spain after coming from behind to snatch victory with a stoppage-time goal from substitute Lautaro Martinez in a highly-charged encounter.
• Lionel Messi again proved the talisman for Argentina as he provided the pass for Enzo Fernandez to strike the equaliser and the cross for Martinez’s winner.
• Anthony Gordon had put England ahead with a back post tap-in from a cross by Morgan Rogers in the 55th minute.
• Argentina’s pressure saw them equalize in the 85th minute as Fernandez fired home from outside the box.
• Martinez headed the 92nd-minute winner after he stole in between the England defence to put his side into the final.
• Alexis Mac Allister twice hit the woodwork and England keeper Jordan Pickford made a vital one-handed stop in the 69th minute to deny Nico Gonzalez’s goal-bound header.
• The match started at a furious tempo and tempers frequently boiled over with American referee Ismail Elfath struggling to keep control.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Atlanta; Editing by Ken Ferris)
