Messi guides Argentina to shoot-out win
John McAuley reports:
Maybe this is Argentina’s year after all. From 2-0 up to pegged back in the dying seconds, ultimately they pushed through.
They prevailed on penalties against the Netherlands amid the boiling tension and the bedlam at Lusail Stadium on Friday night and some of Saturday morning, too, Lionel Messi’s last dance sustaining through – somehow – to the semi-finals.
Emiliano Martinez proved the hero, repelling Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis in the shoot-out and leaving Lautaro Martinez to seal it. Argentina, the South American champions, could still rule the world, as well.
Drama, drama, drama.
Two quarter-finals, two penalty shoot-outs.
The stakes are enormous in this tournament and the games are suitably tense.
Croatia and Argentina march on to the semi-finals; Brazil and the Netherlands are going home.
We'll be back tomorrow for Morocco versus Portugal and France versus England.
Messi is punching the air in victory, his World Cup dream is still alive. What an enthralling encounter.
Penalties: 3-4
Lautaro Martinez snatches victory with the last kick of the game!
Argentina are in the semi-finals.
Penalties: 3-3
Luuk de Jong keeps the faith alive!
Penalties: 2-3
Fernandez hits it wide!
Penalties: 2-3
Weghorst buries it. Dream is still alive, for now.
Penalties: 1-3
Montiel, who was brought on in extra time for penalties, restores their two-goal advantage. The Dutch must score the next one!
Penalties: 1-2
Koopmeiners keeps his cool and pulls one back.
Penalties: 0-2
Paredes thumps home Argentina's second!
Penalties: 0-1
Berghuis's effort is saved by some amazing keeping. Big advantage to Argentina here!
Penalties: 0-1
Messi doesn't miss, Argentina take the lead. He tickles it home.
Penalties: 0-0
Van Dijk's effort is saved!
Argentina have won four of their five World Cup penalty shoot-outs; the Netherlands have won one of three.
ET full-time: Netherlands 2-2 Argentina
All square. To penalties we go!
Off the post!
ET 30 + 1 mins: Fernandezis denied by the woodwork in the final seconds.
ET 29 mins: Argentina are trying to repeat the Dutch's last-minute heroics by throwing everything at it.
However, they leave their backline exposed and the Netherlands have a good chance to steal a winner.
The ball is then run back up by Argentina ... as yet another shot is saved by Noppert.
It's like the 12th round of a heavyweight boxing match this, each team is slogging it out.
Chance!
ET 26 mins: Good pressure from Argentina produces a deflected shot and another strong effort. Neither find their way in.
Chance!
ET 24 mins: Van Dijk keeps the Netherlands in this. He doesn't know much about it, but his chest deflects a wicked shot out for a corner.
Yellow card
ET 22 mins: Not sure how there's room left in the ref's book after this. Pezzella joins the small village of people in there.