Argentina win 4-3 on penalties after Netherlands had come back from two goals down to equalise in normal time.
Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic, testy match at Lusail’s Iconic Stadium to set up a semi-final against Croatia, following their World Cup quarter-final finish at 2-2 after extra-time.
A total of 17 yellow cards were handed out in the match on Friday, which looked to be going Argentina’s way until the Netherlands equalised in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
A half-hour of extra time saw no breakthroughs.
The Dutch failed to score their first two penalties in the shootout, while Argentina were flawless until they missed their fourth. Lautaro Martinez scored their final spot kick and kept Argentina’s World Cup dreams alive.
A bad-tempered match saw a fracas break out towards the end of normal time, with Argentina’s Leandro Paredes losing his cool and booting the ball into the Dutch dugout – the substitutes then storming onto the pitch.
That incident and the other frequent stoppages were enough to add 10 minutes to the clock and that was just enough. A free kick for the Netherlands in the 101st minute of normal time turned out to be a surprise training-ground exercise from the Dutch, as Teun Koopmeiners rolled the ball to the foot of the wall where Weghorst was waiting once more to turn and sweep a shot into the goal to bring the score to 2-2.
Extra time saw tempers flaring again but no goals despite chances at both ends.
The loss brings an end to 71-year-old Louis van Gaal’s tenure as coach of the Dutch national team.
Argentina will play Croatia – who sensationally knocked out five-time world champions Brazil, also on penalties – in the World Cup semi-final at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Tuesday.
(SOURCE: AL JAZEERA)
