Doha: Emiliano Martinez made two huge saves, and Lautaro Martinez scored the winning penalty as Argentina held off a late fightback from the Netherlands yesterday at the Lusail Stadium to clinch a semi-final spot in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Argentina had taken a 2-0 lead with 17 minutes left in the match but substitute Wout Weghorst scored in the 83rd and added time to send the game into extra time.
With no goals in the 30 minutes of extra time, the match was decided on shootout, with the South Americans winning 4-3.
Martinez saved the first two Dutch penalties from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis. Messi, Leandro Paredes and Gonzalo Montiel scored to put Argentina in command before Enzo Fernandez missed his kick to give the Dutch some hope. Teun Koopmeiners, Weghorst and Luke De Jong all scored for the Netherlands, but Martinez kept his cool to slot home from 12 yards to the delight of the packed stadium filled with predominantly Argentina fans.
Argentina's Emiliano Martinez saves a penalty missed by Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk during the penalty shootout. (Reuters/Paul Childs)
“Argentina has a team spirit because we know how to face all the situation in the game,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “It is true we would have deserved to avoid the penalties but we fought until the end and the Dutch team gave us trouble in the second half. This team has experience, pride, young players and I think this is key.”
The match started cagey, with few chances in the first 10 minutes, but Marcos Acuna could have done better with his final ball, which failed to find a teammate in the box after being picked out in space by Lionel Messi.
Argentina remained the more assertive, pushing into Dutch territory, but the Netherlands’ defence held firm.
In search of the opener, Messi uncharacteristically blazed an effort well wide while aiming for the top corner after wriggling his way past a crowd of Dutch defenders.
The Netherlands finally had a chance to test the Argentine defence as Memphis Depay and Steven Bergwijn exchanged passes but the latter dragged his shot wide for a goalkick.
Rodrigo de Paul tested Noppert in goal, but the lanky keeper easily held his tame shot.
Argentina finally found the breakthrough in the 35th minute. Messi played in Nahuel Molina, who took one touch to push the ball beyond Daley Blind before shrugging off Van Dijk to slot home past Noppert.
The Netherlands’ shockingly poor showing continued in the second half as Berghuis replaced the ineffective Bergwijn. Messi, again, twisting and turning, found some space, but his shot was straight at Noppert.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner rifled a delightful free-kick just inches away from the top corner.
Not to be denied his goal, Messi made it two for Argentina in the 73rd minute from the spot. Marcos Acuna was judged to have been brought down by Denzel Dumfries, and Spanish referee Antonio Mateu did not hesitate to award. Messi made no mistake to slot home as Noppert stood rooted.
However, the Dutch pulled one back from their first shot on target as substitute Werghost’s header from a Berghuis assist, flew past Martinez with eight minutes to go.
Rejuvenated by the goal, the Netherlands came close again, but Berghuis could only find the side netting from just inside the box.
With time running out, Werghost brought some drama in added time, scoring his second of the match to send the game into extra time. Koopmeiners shaped to shoot from a set piece just outside the box but instead rolled a low pass for Weghorst. The big centre forward held off his marker to turn and send in a low shot with Martinez well beaten.
In extra time, Messi tried a shot from way out, but it failed to trouble Noppert as it flew wide.
Substitute Lautaro Martinez had the best chance to seal it for the South Americans; his effort from inside the box bounced off Van Dijk for a corner.
It was all Argentina as Enzo Fernandez’s shot from range took a huge deflection, and with Noppert beaten, the ball somehow failed to land in the net.
Hunting for the winner, Argentina defender Germán Pezzella’s header was off the mark as the two-time champions carved spaces in the tired Dutch defence.
Noppert parried Lisandro Martinez’s shot before Messi’s effort was deflected for a corner. Noppert was alive again to divert Di Maria’s corner for another corner, and Enzo Fernandez rifled a shot off the post as the referee blew for penalties.
“The boys fought until the bitter end. They are feeling despondent. They gave everything and I am immensely proud of them,” Dutch coach Louis van Gaal said after the match. “It is incredibly painful to see how we were eliminated, especially because I did everything to prevent this.”
La Albiceleste will now face Croatia at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday. Argentina had lost to the Europeans four years ago in the group stage in Russia.
