NEW DELHI: Argentina and Lionel Messi saved their World Cup dream alive on a nervy night time as they defeated Netherlands 4-3 on penalties to achieve the semi-finals on Saturday. Argentina will now face the final version’s runners-up Croatia, who knocked Brazil out of the event with a shootout win on Friday, within the final 4 stage on Wednesday.
The two-time champions have been effectively on track for the semis after taking a 2-0 lead late into the second half, earlier than substitute Wout Weghorst took the sport into the additional time by scoring two late objectives for the Netherlands. The second Netherlands purpose got here as late as within the 111th minute. The rating remained levelled at 2-2 after the half-hour of additional time too, paving method for a dramatic penalty shootout at Lusail stadium.
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Argentina keeper Emi Martinez saved the primary two Netherlands penalties to offer Argentina a 2-0 benefit within the shootout too. But Enzo Fernandes, who was the fourth penalty taker, missed his spot kick for Argentina to offer Netherlands a glimmer of hope, earlier than Lautaro Martinez scored the winner for the South American facet.
It was Messi magic once more for Argentina within the regulation time, setting the primary purpose for them with a decisive go to Nahuel Molina within the first half. He then transformed a penalty within the 73rd minute to offer Argentina a two-goal cushion, earlier than Weghorst got here off the bench and turned the sport the wrong way up. But ultimately it was a contented ending for Messi and co.

Messi celebrated with arms aloft in entrance of the massed ranks of Argentina followers, his hopes of securing soccer’s largest prize on the fifth try intact for a couple of extra days.
A 3rd bench-clearing melee of the match befell behind him as a few of the Dutch gamers, distraught after coming so near one of many biggest comebacks in World Cup historical past, clashed with their Argentine rivals.
Apparently on their method house at 2-0 down with solely seven minutes of regular time remaining, the Dutch scored twice by substitute Weghorst to ship the match to 2 scoreless durations of additional time.
Messi, virtually inevitably, had performed a significant position in giving Argentina their lead.

While it was Molina’s purpose that put Argentina forward within the thirty fifth minute, it was Messi who unlocked a suffocating Dutch defence that had snuffed out any earlier possibilities.
The 35-year-old took the ball 40 metres out and ghosted to his left in entrance of a wall of markers earlier than sliding a go again to the suitable to Molina on the sting of the field.
The wingback took a contact and poked the ball previous onrushing goalkeeper Andries Noppert to ship the overwhelming majority of the 88,235 crowd at Lusail Stadium into paroxysms of enjoyment.
There was extra delirium for the Albiceleste trustworthy within the 73rd minute when Messi slapped a penalty kick in the suitable midriff of the online after Denzel Dumfries had fouled Marcos Acuna on the sting of the field.

With techniques extra harking back to Sunday park soccer than Total Football, the Dutch bought again into the competition by bombarding the Argentine space with excessive balls geared toward their tall goal males.
They have been rewarded with a purpose within the 83rd minute when Steven Berghuis crossed from the suitable and his fellow substitute Wout Weghorst headed the ball previous Martinez’s dive.
The Argentines held onto their lead till 11 minutes into stoppage time when Teun Koopmeiners cleverly reversed a free kick and located Weghorst free to place the ball previous Martinez and stage up the match.
The Argentines have been shell-shocked by the turnaround within the first interval of additional time however recovered their composure to pepper the Dutch purpose with pictures, Enzo Hernandez coming closest to scoring with a rasping effort that hit the put up.
The defeat was the primary for the Dutch in 20 matches going again to final 12 months’s European Championship and introduced an finish to 71-year-old Louis van Gaal’s third spell as coach.
(With inputs from companies)