Argentina's Di Maria does the dirty on the Swiss

With penalties looming in Sao Paulo, Angel Di Maria scored a dramatic winner to send Argentina into the quarter-finals of the World Cup at the expense of Switzerland. 

Lionel Messi drove through the middle of the Swiss side, setting up his Di Maria to calmly slot home and send the Argentine-crowded Arena de Sao Paulo into delirium.

Blerim Dzemaili then hit the post for Switzerland, but Alejandro Sabella's side hung on to set up a last eight meeting with either Belgium or the USA. 

Despite carrying the underdogs tag, it was Ottmar Hitzfeld's side that contrived to create the two best chances of the first half.

Firstly they were denied by Sergio Romero; later they were denied by the poor finishing of their lone-striker Josip Drmic.

Xherdan Shaqiri had zipped along the byline, pulling the ball back to Granit Xhaka on the penalty spot. The Borussia Mönchengladbach man pushed the ball towards goal but was foiled by a dramatic save from Romero.  

Ten minutes later, with half-time approaching, Josip Drmic then raced clean through.

Collecting a long diagonal ball, he raced towards the goal but opted for a chip rather than for power and Romero, who didn't look entirely sure what to do, gratefully plucked the slow-moving Brazuca from the air. 

As an attacking entity, Argentina improved after the break - they had to.

Marcos Rojo, who put in a brilliant performance, curled a cross onto the head of Gonzalo Higuain and the Napoli striker directed it goalwards - Diego Benaglio was on hand to dramatically tip it over the bar though.

Almost immediately, Higuain had another, more presentable chance.

However this time the execution was lacking. Zabaleta's cross was good, but Higuain's header lacked direction and didn't trouble the Swiss goal.

Lionel Messi drifted in and out of the game, briefly threatening to splutter into life as the game edged towards half-time, but la Albiceleste's star of the group phase couldn't prevent an additional 30 minutes.

Di Maria, who came alive in the final 15 minutes, came close to breaking the deadlock in extra-time, driving a long distance shot towards the top corner eary in the second period.

At full stretch, Benaglio beat it away for a corner though with Switzerland looking increasingly ready for penalties.

Di Maria made sure it never made it that far though.

Match facts

Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Fernandez, Garay, Rojo (Bastanta 105); Gago (Biglia 105), Mascherano; Lavezzi (Palacio 74), Messi, Di Maria; Higuain.

Booked: Rojo, Di Maria, Garay.

Goal: Di Maria 118.

Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichsteiner, Schar, Djourou, Rodriguez; Inler, Behrami; Xhaka (Fernandes 66), Shaqiri, Mehmedi (Dzemaili 113); Drmic (Seferovic 82).

Booked: Xhaka, Fernandes. 

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden).