FIFA World Cup: Argentina eliminate Netherlands to set up semi-final clash with Croatia

Argentina beat the Netherlands by 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the FIFA World Cup 2022 quarter-final to set up a semi-final clash with Croatia at the Lusail Stadium on Saturday.

Lionel Messi provided an assist for the first goal and converted a penalty to help Argentina take a 2-1 against the 2010 finalists.

However, Wout Weghorst had other ideas, as he scored twice to level the match and force extra time.

The South American side prevailed on penalty shootout after netting four penalties.

There wasn't a real shot on target in the opening 15 minutes. Argentina was more aggressive and attempted to attack Dutch territory, but the Netherlands' defence stood its ground.

Jurrien Timber drew Emi Martinez into his first piece of action of the night in the 18th minute. He quickly came out to slide in front of Steven Bergwijn and grab the ball.

In the 25th minute, Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay engaged in a brief interplay, but the latter dragged his effort wide.

Argentina opened the scoring in the 35th minute thanks to a goal from Nahuel Molina, who poked a low drive past Andries Noppert after Lionel Messi threaded a precise cross through the Dutch defence.

Following that, things became tense as three players received bookings.

Emi Martinez was able to easily grasp the ball after coming through a crowd to intercept a cross that Cody Gakpo drove to the byline and dug out five minutes into the second half.

Moving forward, the Dutch found it difficult to contribute anything, and Argentina was in a lot less stressful situation.

Messi blasted it and beat the wall in the 63rd minute. Although it didn't quite make the bar, it appeared to.

Argentina was awarded a penalty after Marcos Acuna tripped in the box in the 71st minute. Messi placed the ball calmly in the corner. Andries Noppert viewed Messi's display of magic.

The 2014 finalists pulled one back in the 83rd minute. Wout Weghorst scored his first World Cup goal as he got across his marker to glance a cross from the right into the far corner of the net with his head.

In the 92nd minute, Steven Berghuis hit a free kick but it struck right into the wall.

The Oranje scored a stoppage time equaliser to make the score line 2-2 after a well worked free kick, forcing the match go into extra time.

Berghuis shaped to shoot, but instead rolled a low pass into the mixer and Weghorst turned and rolled in a low shot.

At the end of the first half of the extra time, both teams couldn't take a shot at the target.

In the 115th minute, Messi set up Enzo Fernandez for a shot that took a deflection off Wout Weghorst and drifted just over the bar.

In the penalty shootout, Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved the first two penalties to help his side beat the Dutch by 4-3.

Argentina will next clash with Croatia in the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup at the Lusail Stadium on Wednesday, December 14.

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