Final Scoreline for Match 62 (SEMI - FINAL #2):
NETHERLANDS - 0 (2)
ARGENTINA - 0 (4)
Fascinating match, with neither team giving the other an inch! Argentina really upped their game for the second-most crucial game of their campaign, and how it payed dividends in the end.
More than the aggression, it was a tale of superb defense by both teams. Time and again, Arjen Robben and Lionel Messi were thwarted and prevented from entering the marked areas. The chances which came were few and far between, specially in the regular halves. At the 90-minute mark, scores were still 0-0.
The Dutch had tried a different 3-2-3-2 formation to be a bit more penetrative and attacking, but that didn't help their cause much. Van Persie had little to do and towards the end, he was doing defensive duties by keeping Messi on check. A dubious offside call for Higuain deprived Argentina of what could have been their first goal, which replays showed was a legit goal. A double change at around the 78th minute to bring in Palacio AND Aguero also failed to materialise much, as neither player possessed the ball enough to make a difference. In the final few minutes, Robben missed a great chance to score as well. The scoreline might have read 1-1 at the end of regular time.
Extra Time didn't have much action in the first 15 minutes, as players started to get weary. Van Persie was substituted for Huntelaar, but even that move didn't help much. Palacio missed a fantastic chance when he headed the ball straight into the keeper's hands, else the match would have ended right then and there in Argentina's favor.
And so we entered the Penalty Shootout. The Dutch went first.
Dutch 1st kick - Saved by Romero, Argentina's keeper.
Argentinian 1st kick - Scored by Messi. 1-0.
Dutch 2nd kick - Scored by Robben. 1-1.
Argentinian 2nd kick - Scored by Garay. 2-1.
Dutch 3rd kick - SAVED AGAIN! 2-1 still.
Argentinian 3rd kick - Aguero takes it and scores. 3-1.
Dutch 4th kick - Kuyt scores. 3-2.
Argentinian 4th kick - Maxi Rodriguez scores. 4-2, and ARGENTINA WIN!!
An entertaining match till the end. Shame it had to be decided by Penalty Shootouts. The Dutch never had good luck with this part of soccer, so they should have shown a bit more urgency in the normal time itself by gunning for the goal. As things stood, Argentina won and are now through to the FINAL where they meet Germany.
As for the Oranje, they are only left to ponder - what if?! The 2010 Finalists bow out in the Semi-Final stage in 2014. They meet Brazil in the playoff for the 3rd place now.