Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul of Argentina celebrate after Nahuel Molina scored his first goal against the Netherlands during the quarter-final match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar on December 9, 2022 (REUTERS) )
LUSAIL, Qatar –Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout to keep Lionel Messi’s World Cup Dream survived Friday after the Dutch secured a 2-2 draw after a crushing defeat in an extraordinary quarter-final.
Emiliano Martinez saved the Netherlands’ first two penalties to give Argentina a huge advantage and Lautaro Martinez misled Andries Noppert to set a date against Croatia in Tuesday’s semi-final.
Messi raised his hands in celebration in front of a swarm of Argentina fans, hopes of winning football’s biggest prize at the fifth attempt still alive for a few more days.
“Argentina are among the four best teams in the world because they have shown that they know how to play every game with the same desire and intensity,” said 35-year-old Messi.
“A lot of fun, a lot of happiness. We didn’t have to go into extra time or penalties, we had to suffer. But we made it through and that was impressive.”
The third bench battle of the match was the backdrop for Messi’s celebration as several Dutch players, distraught after coming so close to one of the greatest comebacks in history World Cup, clashed with their Argentinian opponents.
Spanish referee Antonio Mateu showed a total of 16 yellow cards during the match and Dutch full-back Denzel Dumfries was sent off after the final whistle for his part in the final scuffle.
Apparently on the way home with a 2-0 scoreline with only seven minutes remaining in official time, the Dutchman scored twice through substitute Wout Weghorst to send the game into extra time. goal.
Messi, almost certainly, played a key role in giving Argentina the lead.
While Nahuel Molina’s goal put Argentina ahead in the 35th minute, it was Messi who unlocked the choking Dutch defense that had extinguished any previous chances.
Taking the ball out 40 yards, he dribbled left in front of the marked fence before passing right back to Molina on the edge of the box.
The full-back touched the ball and poked a gap through the rushing goalkeeper Andries Noppert, much to the delight of the vast majority of 88,235 spectators at Lusail Stadium.
The Albiceleste followers were even more excited in the 73rd minute when Messi scored a penalty in the middle of the right field after Dumfries fouled Marcos Acuna on the edge of the box.
With a tactic more reminiscent of Sunday park football than Total Football, the Dutch returned to the competition by bombarding the Argentina area with high balls aimed at their tall players.
They paid off with a goal in the 83rd minute when Steven Berghuis crossed from the right and his substitute Wout Weghorst headed the ball past Martinez’s pass.
The Argentine held the lead until 11th minute of injury time when Teun Koopmeiners deftly reversed a free-kick and let Weghorst free the ball past Martinez and level the game.
The Argentinians were shocked by the comeback early in extra time but they regained their composure to score against the Netherlands with shots, Enzo Hernandez coming closest to the goal with a shot. finish bouncing the vertical column.
A belated surge gave Argentina the impetus to go into the penalty shootout, and Martinez added to that momentum when he saved Van Dijk and Berghuis’ penalties.
It was the Dutchman’s first loss in 20 games since last year’s European Championship and ended 71-year-old Louis van Gaal’s third term as manager.
Van Gaal said: “We train on penalties all year and then you spoil it.
“Unfortunately. As a coach, I want to control everything. That’s why I ask the players to take penalties at their clubs, they all do. If you miss two, you won’t win anymore. You simply can’t emulate such a series.”
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