ARGENTINA have beaten Netherlands in a stunning penalty shoot-out to reach the World Cup semi-final.
The Dutch fought back to level it 2-2 in sensational fashion with Wout Weghorst scoring his second of the match in the 100th minute before extra-time took place.
Argentina now face Croatia in Tuesday’s semi-final – after they shocked Brazil on penalties earlier today.
- Result: Netherlands 2-2 Argentina (Argentina win 4-3 on pens)
- Netherlands XI: Noppert; Dumfries, Timber, Van Dijk, Ake, Blind; De Roon, De Jong; Gakpo, Bergwijn, Depay
- Argentina XI: E Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, L Martínez, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez
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Goodnight from the Lusail Stadium
It’s been an evening of pure drama that included a penalty shootout, a last gasp equaliser, some feisty flashpoints, an overzealous referee and a little bit of Lionel Messi magic.
And the upshot of all that is Argentina taking their place in another World Cup semi-final.
Lionel Scaloni’s team will face Croatia on Tuesday after finally getting the better of the Netherlands in Lusail.
Like their South American rivals before them, La Albiceleste were taken to penalties after letting a late lead slip.
But unlike Brazil, the Argentines kept their cool when it mattered.
It brings an end to another absurdly exciting day at this World Cup, and sets us up neatly for tomorrow when England take centre stage against France.
Until the big one, thanks for joining us and goodbye.
And it was all yellow…
The final figures are in from FIFA, and it’s been recorded that referee Antonio Mateu showed 17 yellow cards this evening.
Two of those were to members of the Argentine coaching team while three were shown after the game had actually finished.
Among the eight Argentina players to be cautioned, two of those – Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel – will be suspended for the semi-final.
If you see this man turn on to your street wearing a traffic warden’s uniform, move the car!
A date with Croatia
The majority wanted an Argentina – Brazil semi-final.
The majority expected it.
But instead it will be Croatia that take their place in the semis, and their opponents were very nearly the Netherlands.
Yet Argentina eventually managed to win their way through on penalties, and will take their place in the final four on Tuesday evening.
- Argentina v Croatia (Tuesday, 7pm, Lusail Iconic Stadium)
Match stats from Lusail Stadium
The Netherlands clawed this game back from the jaws of defeat with their only two attempts on target, but ultimately paid the penalties.
La Albiceleste triumph!
Lionel Messi punches the air in front of thousands of Argentina fans as many of his teammates celebrate nearby.
But elsewhere it’s going off again among a select group with Denzel Dumfries in the thick of it.
That will no doubt lead to other yellow cards from a referee so pernickety that he even showed one during the height of the shootout.
It took a long time to get going, but this quarter-final will go down as a classic that had it all.
Lautaro Martinez scores!
And Argentina are in the semi-finals of the World Cup!
It’s a superb penalty under immense pressure from the striker, who pulls it into the top left corner while sending Andries Noppert the wrong way.
Netherlands 3-4 Argentina
Luuk De Jong scores!
And levels up the shootout!
But Argentina have one more spotkick to win it…
Netherlands 3-3 Argentina
Enzo Fernandez misses!
The young midfielder could have won it for Argentina, but pulls his spotkick wide of the left post.
Netherlands 2-3 Argentina
Wout Weghorst scores!
A hat-trick of sorts for the substitute.
He sends Emi Martinez the wrong way to find the bottom corner
Netherlands 2-3 Argentina
Gonzalo Montiel scores!
So assured from the defender, who pushes his effort into the corner.
Netherlands 1-3 Argentina
Teun Koopmeiners scores!
A lovely penalty, pulled into the right corner with his left boot.
Netherlands 1-2 Argentina
Leandro Paredes scores!
A great penalty from the midfielder!
The thousands of Argentines behind that goal are ecstatic!
Netherlands 0-2 Argentina
Steven Berghuis misses!
Emi Martinez does it again! What a save!
This time he goes to his left! The Aston Villa stopper is in inspired form!
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
Lionel Messi scores!
Again! Advantage Argentina!
The main man sends Noppert the wrong way to roll it down the middle.
Netherlands 0-1 Argentina
Virgil van Dijk misses!
A great save by Emi Martinez, diving to his right to push away the Dutch captain’s effort.
Netherlands 0-0 Argentina
The coin toss
Virgil van Dijk and Lionel Messi meet in the middle, and it’s the Dutchman that wins the coin toss.
The Netherlands will kick first.
Full time – Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
After two hours of enthralling, gruelling football, this quarter-final will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
120+1. Fernandez! Off the post!
The young Argentine almost wins it in stunning fashion with a long range whistler that beats Noppert, but crashes agonisingly off the frame of the goal.
So, so close.
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
120. Di Maria almost wins it with a wicked corner that swings back in!
It looks destined for the net until Noppert gets an important hand on the delivery to tip it over.
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
119. It’s an end-to-end finish, and there is space opening up all over the field.
Argentina counter from a failed Netherlands break, and almost steal victory.
The ball is worked in to Lautaro Martinez, who turns sharply and lets fly with a 20-yarder that Noppert parries away.
Martin Lipton is still full of energy in extra-time:
“Holland have been playing for penalties throughout extra-time.
“But that self-confidence, almost arrogance, of the Argentine fans is a long-ago memory now.
“Yes, the drums are still a-banging.
“But it’s a very different edginess on all sides of the stadium. Nervous. Tense.”
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
117. From Di Maria’s outswinging corner, Pezzella gets his head on the ball but his effort flies over the crossbar.
It’s a strong finish from the South Americans.
Where has this energy come from?
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
116. Fernandez with the long range effort! Deflected and in!
No! It loops up over Noppert and ripples the roof of the net!
The Argentina supporters at the opposite end of the stadium thought it was in.
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
114. A burst of energy from the fresh Di Maria, who darts past two in the box and squares for Lautaro Martinez.
A first time shot from the striker is deflected agonisingly wide!
Argentina are having a late rally.
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
113. A brilliant block from Fernandez denies De Jong from getting on the end of the free-kick curled into the penalty area.
Bodies on the line.
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
112. A yellow card for Pezzella now, who brings down Gakpo with a scissor-like challenge.
Meanwhile, Angel Di Maria is on in what is Argentina’s sixth and final substitution. Lisandro Martinez makes way.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
