Argentina beats Netherlands in penalty kicks at the World Cup quarterfinals to set up Semifinal against Croatia
A sensational Dutch comeback was in vain as Argentina progressed to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup on penalties after a historic 2-2 draw at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Argentina were on one leg in the semi-final thanks to goals from Nahuel Molina and Lionel Messi, but Wout Weghorst scored two notable goals from the bench – including one in the 10th minute of second half stoppage time – to keep the game alive in the most dramatic circumstances.
No more goals were scored in the extra 30 minutes, but the Copa America winners kept their spirits up from the spot to win 4–3 in the shootout to secure a semi-final with Croatia.
To say the opening exchanges were restrained would be an understatement as the Netherlands had plenty of possession but failed to make anything meaningful out of it.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was, unsurprisingly, at the center of Argentina’s attacks, and his undying excellence helped La Albiceleste take the lead after 35 minutes.
Messi’s twinkling toes lit up the Lusail Iconic Stadium before the Paris Saint-Germain striker passed a ball to right-back Molina, who deflected Virgil van Dijk’s attention and fired into the far corner.
Argentina suddenly had their tails in the air and the Netherlands couldn’t answer the questions posed by a new five-man Albiceleste backline, leading Louis Van Gaal to bring in Teun Koopmeiners and Steven Berghuis at half height for Steven Bergwijn and Marten de Roon. time.
The Orange remained toothless in the final third, however, and Argentina were more than happy to absorb the pressure before Messi won a free-kick in a dangerous area in the 63rd minute, but the 35-year-old sent his shot a whisker over the goal line . bar.
Van Gaal’s side would pay for their passivity in the 73rd minute, when Denzel Dumfries tripped Marcos Acuna just inside the box to give Messi the chance to double his score from the spot. perfect penalty in the side of the net.
Messi’s 11th World Cup goal saw him surpass Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer in the tournament, but the Netherlands would give themselves a glimmer of hope out of the blue in the 83rd minute, when substitute Weghorst met Berghuis’s throw from the right to guide a header past Emiliano Martinez.
Van Gaal’s side finally showed some attacking intent that had been absent for the previous 80 minutes, when Berghuis smashed an effort into the side netting in the 85th minute during his side’s desperate search for an equaliser.
Tensions soon boiled over in the 89th minute when Leandro Paredes kicked a ball into the Dutch dugout after a foul on Nathan Ake, enraging the Dutch contingent and leading to a short fight, but card-happy referee Antonio Mateu banned no one of the field.
The Netherlands were given 10 minutes of added time to try to restore parity, in the latter of which Van Gaal’s side delivered a last gasp free-kick in a promising position, and Weghorst made the seemingly impossible possible.
Instead of going on target, Koopmeiners played a delicate pass into the penalty area for Weghorst, who took a touch and managed to poke home to miraculously force another 30 minutes, then the two sets of hot heads immediately again collided with each other.
Despite all the fiery off-the-ball encounters, neither country provided a spark in the opening period of extra time, but in the 114th minute Van Dijk had to remain steadfast to keep out Lautaro Martinez’s powerful drive after a strong play on the right by Angel Di Maria.
Just a minute later, a long-range strike from Enzo Fernandez landed on the top of the net after a significant deflection, and the Benfica youngster’s buzzing effort then hit the post as stoppage time approached.
Penalties would be needed to decide a great quarter-final, and it was Argentina’s advantage after the first penalty, as Emiliano Martinez jumped to the right to stop Van Dijk’s effort.
The ever-calm Messi converted his penalty to put Argentina 1-0 up, then Martinez dove left to keep Berghuis out before erupting into a celebratory dance.
Fernandez had a chance to seal Argentina’s place in the last four, but he dragged his effort wide and Luuk de Jong sent Martinez the wrong way to keep the Dutch dream alive.
Lautaro Martinez needed to score La Albiceleste’s fifth and final penalty to end the match once and for all, and the Inter Milan striker kept his composure to send his country through to the semi-finals.
Lineups:
Netherlands Replacements: Pasveer, de Ligt, de Vrij, de Jong, Berghuis, Lang, Bijlow, Klaassen, Malacia, Janssen, Weghorst, Koopmeiners, Taylor, Simons, Frimpong
Argentina Replacements: Armani, Foyth, Tagliafico, Montiel, Paredes, Pezzella, di Maria, Rulli, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Gomez, Rodriguez, Dybala, Lautaro Martinez
Scorers:
Argentina
Yellow Cards:
