It was a chaotic night at the iconic Lusail Stadium as the second quarter-final of the day boiled over and descended into madness that needed an extraordinary parry from the beastly Emiliano Martinez to send Argentina hammer and tongs to the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup after 120 minutes of chaos failing to separate the two sides despite all the drama and thrill.
After some crazy ball-swinging action, it was Argentina that rode a phenomenal finish from Nahuel Molina who was teed up impeccably by Lionel Messi as the latter dropped a shoulder and carved a million-dollar pass through the scrimmage of a thousand Orange feet and found its way to the defender who latched onto it and sent it cannoning into the back of the net as the ocean of Argentine fans present in the stadium erupted in ecstasy.
To make matters worse for the Netherlands, Argentina doubled their cushion through their talisman as Messi flipped the ball into net with his signature calm and poise from the dreaded spot. Dumfries found himself in the midst of a whirlpool after his extended leg caught Acuna inside the penalty box and the resultant penalty was sent into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Just when it felt that the game will finish exactly as it stood during the first 80 minutes of regulation time, Berghuis conjured a screaming cross while Weghorst powered home a substantial header to spin into place an existing revolution that had its roots in a mindset that was not willing to take a step back and defend.
Minutes before the final whistle blew, Netherlands got a free-kick and it was Wout Weghorst once again who traded in a signature blow, latching onto an unorthodox free-kick from T Koopmeiners and left the Albiceleste stunned.
Things started to get heated at the Lusail as both sides went with their claws and fangs bared at each otherās jugulars and after 120 minutes of maddening football that also stayed witness to marching orders copped by Denzel Dumfries after a second yellow in the lead up to the penalties.
Here is what Twitter had to say about Argentina beating Netherlands
And as fortune would have it, it was a double miss from the Netherlands that saw Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis to misfire while Argentina held onto their dear lives and eventually it was through Lautaro Martinez that they found salvation and booked a ticket to the semis. Twitter was delighted to witness the football God get what he deserve and wished him the very best for the upcoming encounter.
World Cup: Netherlands vs Argentina. Dying seconds, the Dutch tie it up! What a set piece, what a game! pic.twitter.com/9O1LFiZRve
— Irek BereÅŗniak (@IreneyBerezniak) December 9, 2022
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2021āEmi Martinez saves three penalties vs. Colombia to send Argentina to the Copa America final
2022āEmi Martinez saves two penalties vs. Netherlands to send Argentina to the World Cup semifinals
AdvertisementClutch š§± pic.twitter.com/YfbyE7XyHe
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 9, 2022
Me right now after the Argentina vs Netherlands: pic.twitter.com/jKxbvH7DZe
— Guillermo Cortes (@lil_moon_x) December 9, 2022
Lisandro MartĆnez was tearing up after Argentina's win vs Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/hplHJqSw0f
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 9, 2022
Netherlands vs Argentina
— š¹ā£ļø (@megscedes_) December 9, 2022
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Not foul. Even if it's a foul, it's not PK.
Why didn't this fucking referee check with #VAR ?#Argentina vs #Netherlands #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/BR7iFqZesv— dddemz (@DDDEmz) December 9, 2022
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Argentina vs Netherlands highlights pic.twitter.com/8Xy8ncBR7I
— OJ Simpson (@mrlimpdick) December 9, 2022
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Argentina vs Netherlands
Penalty shoot out#FIFAWorldCup2022 #FIFA #Argentina #NetherlandsvsArgentina pic.twitter.com/2lNhX2tvyH— Patokini (@nito_tito) December 9, 2022
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The Netherlands vs Argentina game was one for the books.
4 goals, a shoot out, penalty saves, 15 yellow cards and this crazy moment š„šæ
AdvertisementImagine going back to club football after this špic.twitter.com/kjKWuC9AEN
— CrossAndNod (@crossandnodFT) December 9, 2022
When I was a kid I heard my dad talk about the nightmare of Argentina. The World Cup back in ā78. In my time as a footballer, Messi was the dream of every player. Today, I played against the dream that became a nightmare. Congrats to Argentina, but Iām so damn proud of this squad pic.twitter.com/SNOplvLMsy
— Marten de Roon (@Dirono) December 9, 2022
