Argentina surrendered a two goal lead in the later stages of their FIFA World Cup quarter final meeting with The Netherlands but were able to see off their rivals on penalties.
Nahuel Molina opened the scoring for Lionel Scaloni’s men five minutes after the half hour mark following an outrageous pass from Lionel Messi, which saw the Atletico Madrid defender convert for his first international goal.
Argentina continued to ask much of that questions but it wasn’t until the 73rd minute that they were able to add to their lead as Lionel Messi converts from the spot after a controversial penalty was awarded for a Denzel Dumfries’ foul on Acuna.
The goal is Lionel Messi’s tenth in FIFA World Cup finals, taking him level with countryman Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all time top scorer in the tournament.
Substitute, Wout Weghorst halved the deficit seven minutes from the end of normal time with a delightful header following a cross from fellow substitute, Steven Berghuis.
The comeback was completed in the final minute of added time as Teun Koopmeiners played a low pass from a free-kick which went under the legs of the Argentine wall and Weghorst touched beyond Emiliano Martinez for his second of the night.
It ended 2-2 and extra time could produce no goal. Thus, the game went to penalties.
It was only the first time since 1986 that both quarter final games in the same day have went to penalties as Brazil had been beaten in earlier in the evening on penalties by Croatia. In 1986, France beat Brazil and Germany eliminated host nation, Mexico, both decided on penalties.
Argentina had also won all their three meetings with the Netherlands when the matches had gone to extra time. Two of those wins have come in penalty shootouts, including in the 2014 semi finals in Rio de Janeiro.
Virgil van Dijk and Steven Bergwijn both missed The Netherlands’ first two penalties as Emiliano Martinez, who hadn’t made a single save in normal time saved both their efforts while every other players scored, including Lionel Messi, who kicked off Argentina’s first in the shootout.
Enzo Fernandez missed Argentina’s fourth of the shootout, making them reach their fifth kick of the shootout and Lautaro Martinez did not disappoint, making up for his bad tournament to send Argentina through to the semi finals for the second time in the last three editions.
They face Croatia for a place in the final of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
