Argentina will face Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals after beating the Netherlands 4-3 on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 extra-time draw.
Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez saved penalties from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis before Lautaro Martinez scored the winning spot kick to secure a 4-3 victory over Netherlands on Friday after their World Cup quarterfinal finished 2-2 after 120 minutes.
The Netherland’s had rarely troubled Argentina during the match until substitute Wout Weghorst’s scored two dramatic late goals.
The first came through a header which sparked the Dutch into life and rolled the ball past goalkeeper Emi Martinez deep into stoppage time to send the game into extra time.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi had superbly set up Nahuel Molina for their first-half opener, threading a sublime pass through the Dutch defence, before Coolly slotting in a penalty in the 73rd minute after Denzel Dumfries fouled Marcos Acuna.
Just hours after Brazil crashed out of the tournament on penalties against Croatia, Argentina survived to keep South American interest in the competition.
Messi, who scored a penalty in regulation time, converted his penalty in the shootout while the goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made two saves to help Argentina secure a semi-final match against Croatia, which beat Brazil earlier on Friday.
After Lautaro Martinez scored the clinching penalty, Messi- with his arms outstretched- sprinted towards the goalkeeper, who had fallen to the ground to the side of the goal and lay on top of him in celebration of the victory.
“We had to suffer but we got through,” said Messi.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni called the game “ugly” and Messi was critical of the Spanish referee, Antonio Mateu, saying: “I don’t think he was up to the standard. He was very harmful for us.”
Argentina will next face Croatia who beat Brazil on penalties earlier, on Tuesday for a place in the final.
Source: The Sporting News, AP News, News24 Sport, SuperSport, image from Twitter: @