SAO PAULO - Angel di Maria scored deep into extra time to give Argentina a 1-0 win over Switzerland and seal the South Americans a place in the quarterfinals of the World Cup yesterday.

After a tense 0-0 draw at 90 minutes and a scoreless first period of extra time, Lionel Messi broke quickly and released Di Maria, who swept the ball home before wheeling away in delight.

Blerim Dzemaili almost saved the Swiss when his header hit the post but Argentina held on

"It wasn't me, the heroes are 23 players and the technical staff. We gave our lives, our souls," said Di Maria.

"We always tried to play, we just made one mistake in the first half that allowed a one-on-one with [goalkeeper Sergio] 'Chiquito' Romero. I think the victory is more than deserved."

Switzerland assistant coach Michel Pont added: "Football is brutal, brutal, brutal. Unfortunately, we didn't quite have enough strength at the end to get through extra time. That's the way it is in soccer, one small mistake. We had a chance to get a goal before that ... it's totally brutal."

Argentina had leaned heavily on Messi throughout the group stage, the number 10 scoring four of their six goals, and the forward was at the heart of their best work in the first half, prompting and prodding in front of the massed Swiss defence.

Switzerland, who were looking to return to the quarterfinals for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1954, went closest to scoring in a tight first half when impish playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri released Josip Drmic through on goal. The tall striker shaped to shoot but wasted the opportunity.

Argentina looked the stronger side in extra time when Swiss legs began to tire and, just when it looked like Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson would call for a penalty shootout, Di Maria curled the ball to seal the late triumph.