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Argentina overcomes Netherlands in a tense match to reach semi-finals

Dutch makes a brave comeback from 0-2 down to equalise.
Argentine keeper Martinez saves two penalty kicks

BY | Saturday, 10 December, 2022
Credit: @FIFAWorldCup/Twitter

Messi’s Argentina defeated a spirited Netherlands in the second quarterfinal match of FIFA World Cup 2022, in yet another exciting match following the Croatia-Brazil match.

Messi marshalled his troupe well leading from the front, even as they almost threw away a two-goal advantage against the Dutch, before winning it on penalties 4-3.

The match appeared to be looking for a comfortable victory for the Argentines till a late burst by Netherlands led by its centre forward Weghorst who came in as a substitute.

Messi made an almost impossible assist for Molina to score in the 35th minute to give Argentina the lead. Messi sent a perfectly placed and paced through ball into the penalty box bisecting two rows of defenders.

Molina timed his run to perfection to meet the ball and kick it to the net before Van Dijk could get a foot to it.

Despite an even display of attack and possession, the Dutch could not get a shot on target in the first half, as Argentina did more of the probing and led 1-0.

In the second half, Argentina put a string of passes together to threaten the Dutch goal.

In the 71st minute, Van Dijk committed a foul on Acuna just inside the left side penalty box. Dijk tripped Acuna as he attempted to cut in.

Messi, the Argentine captain, took the shot from the spot as coolly as he would, sending ball to the left as the keeper was unable to a guess and stood motionless.

Messi scored his tenth World Cup goal and equalled Gabriel Batistuta’s haul for Argentina in the World Cup.


In desperate need of a couple of goals, the Dutch introduced two big centre-forwards, Steven Berghius 6’ and Wout Weghorst 6’6”.

Their introduction changed the complexion of the game. The Dutch sent in more high ball crosses in and were able to penetrate deeper into Argentine territory. The Argentine defence was made to fall deep which the Dutch began playing a higher line and the game flipped and became more concentrated in the Argentine half.

Weghorst finally scored for the Dutch by heading in a cross to the far post to bring the match alive with around eight minutes of regulation time to go. Incidentally, it was also the first shot on goal for the Dutch.

Berghius nearly found the equaliser in the 85th minute when he sent a powerful shot from just inside the penalty box. However, the shot took a slight deflection and hit the side netting.

With five minutes to go, all the Argentine players were sitting deep in their own half.

With anxious moments for both teams, tempers began to flare up. In the 88th minute, Paredes kicked a ball into the Dutch team bench and the whole bench entered the pitch in anger.

The tense moments went a lot longer as the referee added ten minutes of extra time.

The momentum was with the Dutch as they attacked aggressively, with the Argentines making error after error and unable to keep possession.

With seconds for the match to end, the Argentines conceded a freekick just outside the penalty box.

The Dutch tricked the Argentine defence. Instead of an attempt on goal, they sent a short pass to Weghorst who was also standing in the wall beside the Argentine defence.

Weghorst made one touch and then sent the ball into the left side of the Argentine net, to send the Dutch into wild celebration.

Argentina looked shell shocked. Leading 2-0 till the 82nd minute, they had conceded two goals.

In extra time, the Dutch did not play with the same intensity and plan as they did in the last 30 minutes of the second half. They appeared more cautious not to let the Argentines score to take the lead again.

As the Dutch fell back, Argentina began to find their feet and control again. In the 114th minute, Lautaro had a good attempt blocked by Van Dijk. The Argentines had a series of corner kicks but could not convert. In the 120th minute, Messi had a shot deflected out.

Argentina nearly found the winner at the very end but Enzo Fernandez’s well struck shot hit the right post.

The match had to be decided on penalties.

Dutch keeper Andries Noppert 6’8” and Argentinian keeper Emiliano Martinez 6’5” took centre-stage.

Dutch captain Van Dijk’s shot to the right was saved, while Argentine captain Messi sent Noppert the wrong way as he found the net with a soft shot down the middle.

Berghius then had his powerful shot to the right superbly saved by Martinez; while Paredes beat Noppert with a powerful shot to the right, as Argentina took a huge 2-0 lead.

Koopmeiners sent a powerful shot to the left, while Montiel also scored with a shot to the left.

Weghorst added to his regulation time brace by scoring with a low shot to the right, with Martinez diving to the left. Enzo Fernandez’s shot was wide of the right post as the Dutch found themselves back 2-3.

De Jong scored with a shot to the right to equal the scoreline 3-3, but with Argentina having a shot in balance. Lautaro Martinez scored with a shot to the right even as Dutch keeper Noppert went to the left, as Argentina won 4-3.

As electrifying as it was, the match was also tense and saw 15 cards and made the record for the most cards in a World Cup match, overtaking the Cameroon vs Germany match in 2002 where 14 cards (2 reds) were given.

Two key Argentina players Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel will miss the semi-finals as they collected their second yellow cards at the World Cup.

Having never lost in the semi-final stage, Argentina will be confident to reach the finals as they take on Croatia in the Semi-finals.

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