Dramatic Comeback in Final 5 Minutes Sends Argentina to Finals

[Anchor]

In the North and Central American World Cup, defending champion Argentina has secured a spot in the finals for the second consecutive time after a thrilling comeback victory against England. The hero was, once again, the god of football, Messi.

First, here is reporter Ha Seong-nyong.

[Reporter]

The long-standing rivalry between Argentina and England, which has spanned nearly half a century, began even before they reached the stadium.

The sight of an England team bus overtaking the bus carrying the Argentine players served as a prelude to the intense match ahead.

With rough tackles and fierce physical clashes, the two teams remained locked in a tight battle until England finally broke the deadlock.

In the 55th minute, Gordon finished a cross from Rogers with a one-touch right-footed shot, sending the home of football into a frenzy.

Argentina launched a relentless offensive afterward but faced the brink of defeat as they were thwarted by the opposing goalkeeper's saves and bad luck hitting the goalpost. However, the god of football, Messi, turned everything around with his feet.

In the 85th minute, as the defense collapsed on him, Messi delivered a left-footed pass, and Fernandez fired a long-range right-footed shot to score a dramatic equalizer.

Then, in stoppage time, Messi flashed his brilliance once more.

He sent a precise, pinpoint cross from the flank, setting up Martinez for a header that secured the comeback victory.

Messi, typically known for his left foot, caught the defense off guard with his right foot to complete a multi-assist performance, and the unbelievable turnaround sent all of Argentina into a state of euphoria.

[Pablo Giralt / Telefe Commentator, Argentina: Goal! Long live Argentina, long live Lautaro (Martinez). Let's go, Argentina. It is not over until it is over. You must never lose faith until the very end.]

When the final whistle blew, Messi clenched his fists in celebration, and his teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders to enjoy the moment.

[Messi / Argentina National Team Captain: We have been the best team for the past four years, and this team has proven once again that we are one of the two best teams in the world.]

Argentina has reached the finals for the second consecutive time, staging dramatic wins by scoring winning goals after the 90th minute in four consecutive matches from the Round of 32 to the semifinals.

[Scaloni / Argentina National Team Manager: Our team shows its best performance when in difficult situations. Like a shark smelling blood in the water when the opponent hesitates, we push until the very end.]

The highly anticipated final will take place early Monday morning, and the opponent is the invincible Armada, Spain.

Reported by Ha Seong-nyong | Video by Lee Seung-jin
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.