Caitlin Dillon
The Netherlands made up a two-goal deficit to take Argentina into penalties to fight for their place in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 semi-finals.
Few chances were created in the first half, until Argentina got ahead with ten minutes remaining to half time when Nahuel Molina put his side 1-0 up.
Neither side looked like scoring in the second half, until Denzel Dumfries brought down Marcos Acuña at the edge of the box, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Messi stepped up, and slipped the ball past NOPPERT to score his 10th World Cup goal.
As Argentina seemed set to advance to the semis, Wout Weghorst brought the Netherlands within one goal of the semi-finals.
Then the Dutch were given a lifeline with a free kick. When everyone expected a shot on goal, it was played short into Weghorst, who equalised with the final kick of the match.
An uneventful period of extra time ensued with chances coming from both sides, but neither side managed to gain an advantage, and a penalty shoot-out was underway.
Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis’ efforts were expertly saved by Martínez before Gonzalo Montiel, Luuk de Jong and Weghorst sent the keeper the wrong way.
Messi sent his second penalty of the game straight down the middle, and Leandro Paredes, and Gonzalo Montiel both scored, but Enzo Fernández shot wide.
The last penalty went to Lauturo Martínez, and he made no mistake - and sent Argentina scraping into the semi-finals against Croatia.
Argentina will face Croatia at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday 13th of December at Lusail Stadium for a chance to claim a spot in the final.