THE FUSE

By Razeen Gutta

Lautaro Martinez scored in the 92nd minute as a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina staged a stunning late comeback on Wednesday, beating England 2-1 to reach the Fifa World Cup final.

England looked set for a first final since 1966 after Anthony Gordon put them ahead 10 minutes into the second half in Atlanta.

Morgan Rogers’ low cross found Gordon at the back post and he stole in ahead of Nahuel Molina to give Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead.

But the holders refused to go quietly. With five minutes of normal time to play, Messi threaded a pass to Enzo Fernandez on the edge of the box and the midfielder drilled home the equaliser.

Then, deep into stoppage time, Messi swung in a perfect cross and substitute Martinez rose to head in the winner.

Chaos erupted as Argentina kept alive their bid to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.

It was a brutal finish for England.

Jordan Pickford had kept them in it with saves from Nico Gonzalez and Fernandez, while Alexis Mac Allister hit the post twice.

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane were quiet on the night and England slumped to the turf at full-time.

Messi, now 39, will play in his third World Cup final — only Cafu has done the same. The holders will come up against European champions Spain in New Jersey on Sunday. England will head to Miami to face France in the third-place play-off.

Pictured above: Argentina

Source: @fifaworldcup