World Cup score: Argentina survive two-goal Dutch comeback, advance to semifinals after shootout

Emi Martinez was the hero during the shootout, and Lionel Messi added a goal and an assist

Lionel Messi and Argentina are heading to the semifinals after defeating the Netherlands 4-3 on penalty kicks. Emi Martinez made two saves during an epic penalty shootout and Lautaro Martinez hit the critical kick to send Argentina to the next round. A date with Croatia is on the horizon but it was quite a match to get there. Despite Argentina carrying a 2-0 advantage into the 82nd minute, a late brace from Wout Weghorst drove the game into extra time as Lionel Scaloni's defense collapsed. Scoring his first goal only five minutes after entering the match, Weghorst was the ultimate super sub for Louis van Gaal.

The scoring opened with Nahuel Molina's first goal for the national team. A bit of magic from Lionel Messi was all the team needed as he set up Molina in the 35th minute. Able to make passing lanes where most players see roadblocks, Messi slipped the ball through a sea of Dutch defenders to find the run of Molina and the rest was history. They then added a penalty after Marcos Acuna was fouled by Denzel Dumfries in the 71st minute, and Messi converted from the spot adding what they thought at the time was an extra luxury insurance goal. Little did they know how much that goal would mean.

Wout Weghorst entered the match and scored a header only five minutes later as Argentina then needed to defend the 6'6" mountain in the box. It's a job that they then failed at twice thanks to a little set play magic.

Right out of the gate, Lionel Scaloni got his tactics spot on as Argentina came out mirroring the Netherlands in a back three but when their initial chances from wide didn't work, Argentina decided to attack through the center of the pitch. While it's easier to do with Messi in the middle, all it took was one attack for things to click. But that didn't last long as the match got chippy with 17 yellow cards handed out and the game nearly devolving into chaos with the benches clearing after Leandro Paredes committed a hard foul and booted the ball directly into the Dutch bench in the 89th minute.

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Argentina were able to withstand things almost winning the match in extra time as Angel Di Maria and Enzo Fernandez hit the post but there are worse things that relying on saves from Martinez. He saved the first two penalties from the Dutch to set the tone for the shootout, not allowing the Netherlands to feel comfortable. Thanks to Martinez, despite Fernandez missing his kick from the spot, they had room for error.

With Angel Di Maria back to health and more time to see if Paulo Dybala can contribute during the World Cup, we haven't scratched the surface of what Argentina's ceiling may be, a scary proposition when the team has already been so good after rebounding from a shock loss to Saudi Arabia. Scaloni will need to find a replacement for the suspended Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel in the next match after he will miss out due to yellow card accumulation.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:58 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Lautaro Martinez ends it

Cool as you'd like while the lights shine the brightest. 

Argentina:✅✅✅X✅

Netherlands: XX✅✅✅

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:57 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Luuk de Jong keeps the shootout going

Do the Netherlands have a chance?

Argentina:✅✅✅X

Netherlands: XX✅✅✅

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:57 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Oh no Enzo Fernandez

It's a moment to learn from for the young Argentine

Argentina:✅✅✅X

Netherlands: XX✅✅

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:56 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The Netherlands are doing what they can.

It's a good take from Weghorst

Argentina:✅✅✅

Netherlands: XX✅✅

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:55 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Can you tell that Argentina practices these?

Montiel nails his spot kick

Argentina:✅✅✅

Netherlands: XX✅

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:54 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Koopiemiers finally has the Netherlands on the board!

Finally, they get one past Martinez 

Argentina:✅✅

Netherlands: XX✅

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:53 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Paredes has no issue!

Argentina are rolling

Argentina:✅✅

Netherlands: XX

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:52 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Martinez is unreal!

A second save and he's in the Netherlands' head Berghuis had no chance.

Argentina:✅

Netherlands: XX

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:50 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Messi has no issues

It's his second penalty past Noppert today

Argentina:✅

Netherlands: X

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:50 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Emi Martinez starts things off right for Argentina

Virgil Van Dijk had an okay take but Martinez guessed right.

Argentina:

Netherlands: X

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:46 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

We've got penalties

Emi Martinez who is a shootout master versus Andries Noppert who has never been involved in a shootout. Who will emerge?

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:44 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Di Maria hits one post

And Enzo Fernandes hits the other! HOW HAVE ARGENTINA NOT FOUND A GOAL!

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:42 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Emi Martinez what grab

Lang played a good ball into the box that evaded the defense but Martinez saves. The Netherlands then fired a tame shot at the keeper and both teams are running out of time.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:40 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

More corners for Argentina

Fernandes forces a save from Noppert and Di Maria is firing corner after corner into the box. These deliveries are finding Argentine players. Nervy nervy finish. 

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:38 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Everyone gets a yellow card!

This one is now to Pezella as almost everyone on the pitch is on a yellow card. Noa Lang has come in for Cody Gakpo in the closing stages of the match. Enzo Fernandez does draw a corner kick as Argentina are pushing to close the match.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:33 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It almost feels like both teams are playing for penalties

Argentina has a free kick but they can't create through the middle of the pitch anymore. Montiel has also been yellow carded and will be suspended if Argentina advance. 

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:27 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

15 mintues down, 15 more to go

These teams seem wiped out so can they find anything energy to win this before going to penalties?

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:23 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Messi can't lift his free kick high enough

Almost to the end of the first period of extra time and neither team can find a breakthrough. Are we on track for the fourth penalty shoot out of this World Cup?

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:18 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Now the Netherlands are in a back five

Formations are broken after throwing so many attackers on the pitch but Argentina is passing things out a little to get their balance back. The onus is still on the Dutch as they're more likely to concede unless they go all out attack again.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:06 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

We've got more extra time y'all

[Dec 9, 2022 at 4:04 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Absolutely frantic as the Netherlands draw level!

It's now midnight in Qatar as this game has quite an after hours feel. The Netherlands have a free kick after a foul by Paredes and Messi is yellow carded after not backing off of the wall but Weghorst somehow is free to slid the ball into the net as the Argentine defense goes to sleep.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 3:57 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Ten minutes of stoppage

Fouls everywhere and this will be a nervy finish. Argentina are paying for their time wasting and Acuna is already suspended if Argentina does advance.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 3:51 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

This is when the Netherlands want to exploit their size advantage

Weghorst is 6'6" up top so it's time to lump it forward and hope that Lisandro Martinez can be beaten in the air. the match is getting stretched. There's now a coming together on the pitch as Ake is tacked and Enzo Fernandez kicks the ball into the dutch bench. Tempers. Are. Flaring.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 3:47 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Uh oh, Weghorst has scored

Right off the bench, heading it into the net. It's the first shot on target for the Netherlands of the entire match. Can Argentina hold on after making so many changes?

[Dec 9, 2022 at 3:46 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

When Lautaro Martinez is coming off the bench, that's some kinda depth

Argentina have made another change as Julian Alvarez leaves the match. Alvarez didn't have a great match but Martinez could use the confidence from a late goal.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 3:41 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It's intense 

Emiliano Martinez and Luuk de Jong were in a stare down after Martinez did an Allen Iverson stepover on de Jong but Lisandro Martinez picked up a yellow carded after the exchange. There was also a pitch invader during the madness and it's now time for Argentina to make some subs.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 3:36 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Messi steps up to take a penalty, 2-0 Argentina

Acuna was fouled in the box and Messi won't miss from the spot to put Argentina ahead 2-0 in what feels like an insurmountable mountain to climb for the Netherlands.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 3:29 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Will the Netherlands come out of their shell now?

Luuk de Jong has entered the match for Daley Blind as it's time to throw everything forward. Leandro Paredes will come in for Rodrigo De Paul for fresh legs to match in the 66th mintues.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 3:24 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Uh oh, is it Messi time again?

Messi was fouled juuuust outside the box and will step up to take a free kick at point blank range. A very narrow miss as his free kick almost goes in.

[Dec 9, 2022 at 3:20 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The changes aren't helping

Argentina have fouled a bit but they aren't required to do much of anything in defense. The gaps between the dutch midfield and defense are large and Argentina have shifted into a flat back five to kill this game off. When they go on the counter, Argentina are still finding joy in attack as well.