World Cup 2022: Messi scores, Martinez winner shootout, Argentina beat Netherlands on penalties to semi-finals, Player ratings.
- Argentina hopes still alive for first World Cup trophy since 1986, after a dramatic win over Netherlands 4-3 in penalty shootouts in quarters to set-up a Last-Four clash with Croatia for a place in the World Cup final.
The Dutch eased to a 3-1 win over the United States in the day's earlier game before Argentina beat Australia 2-1 to qualify as Lionel Messi bagged on his 1000th career appearance.
Argentina’s booked a place in the World Cup Semi-finals with Croatia, who earlier stunned Brazil in penalty shootouts.
After Nahuel-Molina scored his first goal for Argentina, Lionel Messi added a second from the penalty spot with less than 20 minutes remaining, and Argentina appeared to be coasting into the semifinals.
The Netherlands' first shot on goal, by substitute Wout Weghorst, brought them back into the game. He then scored from a superbly executed free kick in the eleventh minute of extra time.
The quarterfinal match went to the dreaded spot-kicks despite Argentina's substitute Lautaro-Martinez hitting the post in the final minute of extra time with the score tied at 2-2.
The first two Netherlands penalties were saved by Emiliano Martinez from Virgil-van-Dijk and Berghuis, giving the Dutch a mountain to climb. Lautaro-Martinez then scored the go-ahead penalty to give Argentina the 4-3 shootout victory.
World Cup 2022 Fantasy football: Netherlands vs Argentina, Player Ratings.
Netherlands: Noppert 7, Timber 6, Van Dijk 6, Ake 6, Dumfries 5, Blind 5, De Roon 4, Bergwijn 5, De Jong 8, Depay 6, Gakpo 6..
subs: Berghuis 5, L de Jong 6, Weghorst 8, Lang N/A
Argentina: E Martinez 8, Molina 7, Romero 7, Otamendi 6, L Martinez 7, Acuna 7, De Paul 7, Fernandez 7, Mac Allister 8, Messi 9*, Alvarez 6..
subs: Paredes 7, Tagliafico 6, Pezzella 6, Lautauro Martinez 7, Di Maria N/A, Montiel N/A.
Player of the Match - Lionel Messi.
Best Stats.
Argentina have won the most penalty shootouts of any side in World Cup history (5 wins from 6), while only Spain (4) have lost more penalty shootouts at the World Cup than Netherlands (1 win from 4).
Lionel Messi has assisted five goals in the World Cup knockout stages - since Opta have World Cup assists (from 1966), this is the most on record in the knockout rounds of the finals, surpassing Pele's four.
Wout Weghorst has become the first ever substitute to score twice in a World Cup match for Netherlands. His equaliser was timed at 100:30 - the latest second half goal in a World Cup knockout stage game since Opta have exact goal times (from 1966)
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