Argentina beat Netherlands 4-3 on penalties to reach semi-finals
The Netherlands, who returned to the World Cup after 8 years, was defeated this time too.
KATHMANDU: Argentina advanced to the World Cup semi-finals after defeating the Netherlands. Argentina reached the semi-finals for the first time in eight years after defeating the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
Argentina advanced to the finals in 2014 after defeating the Netherlands in the semi-finals. The Netherlands, who returned to the World Cup after 8 years, was defeated this time too.
Argentina took a 2-0 lead at the start of the game, but could not save it, forcing the game into extra time. After no more goals were scored in extra time, the decision was taken by penalty shootout.
Before that, Argentina took the lead with goals from captain Lionel Messi and Nahuel Molina. Messi doubled the lead in the 73rd minute for Argentina, who took the lead through Molina’s goal in the first half.
Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands, however, scored two goals in the final minute to bring the Netherlands back into the game. The game was then extended.
After losing to Argentina in the quarter-finals, the Netherlands returned home.
Previously, the Dutch team was eliminated from the title in the 2014 semi-finals after losing 4-2 on penalties to Argentina.
Previously, the Netherlands did not qualify in 2018 and finished third in 2014. In that match, the Dutch team was eliminated after losing 3-0 to Brazil. The runner-up team of 2010 was eliminated from the knockout stage in 2016.
The Netherlands, who had an ups-and-downs journey in the World Cup, did not qualify in 2002.
The Dutch team, which finished fourth in 1998, was eliminated in the quarterfinals in 1994. The runners-up in 1974 and 1978 were eliminated from the knockout stages in 1934 and 1938.
