Lionel Messi will live to play another game at a World Cup.
After two shock goals from Wout Weghorst in the dying minutes forced extra time, Argentina regrouped and defeated the Netherlands 2-2 (4-3 on penalties) to advance to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Talisman Messi scored a goal and set up another in the victory, while Aston Villa's Emi Martinez stopped two penalties.
It finished as an instant classic in Qatar, but it certainly didn't start that way.
A largely tepid first half that saw both teams content with trading possession in the middle of the park was brought to life by trademark Messi magic in the 35th.
Spotting the run of Nahuel Molina, Messi delivered a sensational diagonal pass to spring the Atletico defender who beat Andries Noppert with a low drive to make it 1-0. It was Molina's first goal in an Argentina shirt and Messi's seventh assist at a World Cup, putting him one behind the iconic Diego Maradona for most in Albiceleste history.
Messi would breathe some rarified air in the 73rd. After Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to have taken Marcos Acuna down in the area, Messi stepped up to the spot. Calmly dispatching his effort to make it 2-0, Messi pulled even with Fiorentina legend Gabriel Batistuta with a 10th goal at the World Cup for the all-time Argentina mark.
But Argentina couldn't find a way to kill off the match and they paid for it.
In the 83rd, substitute Weghorst's glancing header beat Martinez to make it 2-1 and breathe some life into Dutch hopes. Only minutes later, Steven Berghuis's left-footed rocket from inside the area found the side netting, but looked like a goal for many of those in attendance.
As the minutes ticked down, it appeared the referee might be losing control of the match with tempers flaring and a number of bookings handed out with 13 cautions issued by match's end.
In the final seconds of a lengthy 10 minutes of stoppage, the Dutch had one last chance for an equalizer thanks to an unnecessary foul by German Pezzella on the edge of the Argentina area and they capitalized on the ensuing free kick. Both Berghuis and Cody Gakpo stood over the ball with Gakpo, the scorer of three goals at the tournament already, the most likely to take a pop on net. It was, in fact, Berghuis who would take the free kick, but he didn't exactly shoot, either.
Instead of testing Martinez, Berghuis rolled the ball into the into the group of Dutch players ahead for Weghorst to poke home for his second of the match and make it 2-2 on what was essentially the final kick of the game to force extra time.
Extra time opened with none of the frenzied action of the final minutes of the 90. Both teams used the opening spell as a breather and time to settle down and calm the nerves.
The best chance of the first half of stoppage came with an Argentina free kick in the 104th. Messi tried to find Nicolas Otamendi at the far post, but it was just past his outstretched boot.
In the 114th, Virgil van Dijk probably saved the match for the Oranje. Lautaro Martinez's shot from close-range appeared earmarked for the Netherlands goal, but the Liverpool defender's intervention forced it out for a corner. Then seconds later, Enzo Fernandez's effort was deflected and forced Noppert into a fine save to poke over the bar. On the ensuing corner, Angel Di Maria's swinging corner was headed over by Pezzella.
Then there was a rush of action in the final minutes, capped by Fernandez lashing a powerful effort off of the post, but the match would go to spot kicks.
The victory sets up a date with Croatia on Tuesday with a berth in the World Cup Final on the line. Croatia were shock winners, also on penalties, over tournament favourites Brazil earlier on Friday.
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2022-12-09 21:56:02Z
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