Enlarge image
Lionel Messi
PHOTO: PAUL CHILDS / REUTERS
Argentina defeated the Netherlands on penalties and reached the semi-finals at the World Cup in Qatar.
Nahuel Molina (35th minute) scored for the Albiceleste after superstar Lionel Messi had provided the preliminary work with an outstanding pass.
Messi scored the 2-0 himself with a penalty kick (73'), Wout Weghorst initially reduced the deficit (83'), only to shoot the Netherlands into extra time at the last minute after a free kick trick (90'+10').
Argentina's opponents in the semi-finals on Tuesday (8 p.m.) are Croatia, who previously defeated Brazil in the quarter-finals.
The game started uneventfully.
This also had something to do with the fact that Lionel Scaloni had specially prepared his Argentines for the Dutch team: unlike in the four previous games at this World Cup, the South American champions did not start with three strikers, but did without an attacker alongside Messi and Julián Álvarez strengthen the defense.
A Dutch encountered an Argentinian five-man chain, both teams largely neutralized each other in midfield.
While Elftal tried unsuccessfully to create opportunities with free-kicks, Argentina took the lead with a brilliant moment from Messi: in midfield, the superstar received the ball from Molina, dribbling to attract the attention of up to three opponents and playing through one narrow corridor through the Dutch defense the pass back to Molina.
He only had to overcome Andries Noppert in the penalty area (36').
Bond coach Louis van Gaal replaced Steven Bergwijn and Marten de Roon at the break.
However, the newcomers Steven Berghuis and Teun Koopmeiners could not move either, Argentina was 2-0 closer than the Netherlands to the equalizer.
This was also due to the fact that the Dutch now had to take more risks, Argentina were given space to counterattack.
Messi initially became most dangerous with a stationary ball when he put a free kick just over the goal from 20 meters (63.).
Then Messi had an even bigger chance with a penalty: Denzel Dumfries had brought down the advanced Marcos Acuña, referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz immediately pointed to the point.
Messi kept calm and confidently converted the bottom right (73rd).
Weghorst brought the Netherlands back on with a header (83') before things got wild in the closing stages.
First, Leandro Paredes hit the ball in the direction of the Dutch bank, leading to a pack formation from which Paredes and Oranje defense chief Virgil van Dijk emerged with warnings (89').
Then the Dutch were awarded a free kick in the tenth minute of added time.
Koopmeiners didn't shoot, but played a low pass to Weghorst in the penalty area, who put the ball in the goal and forced extra time.
Argentina took back control of the game there and had numerous chances, but were unable to decide the game.
cev
