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Doha (AFP) – Despite the genius of Lionel Messi, author of an assist and a goal from the penalty spot, Argentina came very close to disaster once morest the Netherlands, who snatched an unexpected equalizer before losing on penalties on goal (2-2 following extra time, 4-3 tab), Friday in Doha.
The Albiceleste therefore came out alive but a little shaken from the fateful session which had been fatal in Brazil a few hours earlier once morest Croatia, Messi’s next opponent, on Tuesday in the semi-finals.
Argentina entered the field informed of the still hot elimination of their best enemy, Brazil, and pushed by the chants of their supporters.
In great form and ultra-motivated for his 24th World Cup match in five final stages, Messi gave the crowd a brilliant first inspiration in the 35th minute for the opener: acceleration and a blind pass to Nahuel Molina who managed to get ahead of Virgil van Dijk’s tackle and score with his toe (35th). 1-0, score at the break.
In the second half, Argentina came close to adding to the score with a quick 59th-minute counterattack, but Mac Allister, who saw De Paul unmarked to his right, squandered this huge chance by misfitting his pass, and the Oranje were able to extricate themselves.
Decidedly untenable, Lionel Messi continued to delight the public with his classy gestures, passes and accelerations, forcing Van Dijk to foul him at the entrance to the area (61st). But the free kick from the Pulga landed just above the net (63rd).
The undecided balance tipped sharply in the Argentinian side in the 71st minute when Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz awarded a penalty for a Dumfries foul on Acuna.
Super Martinez
The opportunity for Messi to score his tenth goal in the World Cup, the fourth at this World Cup (71st). His second successful penalty in Qatar following the one scored in the inaugural defeat once morest Saudi Arabia (2-1), and following the one missed once morest Poland (2-0), both times in the group match.
Difficult at this moment of the match to imagine for a moment the incredible reversal of the situation which would lead to the equalization of the Netherlands, with the two entrants at the start and the arrival of the two goals.
Substitute Wout Weghorst, who entered in place of a fairly transparent Memphis Depay (78th), launched the first stone in the Argentine pond by deceiving Emiliano Martinez with an uncrossed header upon receiving a cross from Steven Berghuis (83rd ), also entered in the second half.
From then on, a wind of panic began to blow in the Albiceleste camp, facing a transformed and dangerous Batavians, as on this heavy strike from Luuk de Jong, just next door (85th).
And another entrant, Leandro Paredes, further increased the opposition’s enthusiasm by deliberately clearing the ball towards the Oranje sidelines, provoking the fury of its occupants and earning him a warning (89th).
And the incredible thing happened at the very end of additional time, in the 90th minute plus … 11: a brilliant fake strike from a free kick by Teun Koopmeiners for Werghorst, the super-substitute who scored and equalized from a crossfire from the left and capsizes his camp of happiness. Extension !
The extension did not allow the score to change despite several dangerous actions, especially on the Argentinian side, including a last shot from Enzo Fernandez on the post (120 + 1).
And the penalty shoot-out turned to the advantage of the Argentines, whose excellent Emiliano Martinez diverted the first two shots from the Oranje.
Eliminated in the round of 16 by France in 2018, Argentina, world champion in 1978 and 1986, continues on its way to a third coronation, which would be the first for its superstar Lionel Messi.
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