Argentina beat Netherlands 4-2 to head into their third World Cup final against Germany on Sunday after a dramatic rain drenched penatly shootout. The game ended goalless at the Arena de Sao Paulo after extra time in what could best be described as a battle of attrition.
Cheered on by a vociferous crowd Lionel Messi, Ezequel Garray, Sergio Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez scored from the spot in the penalty shootout while Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sniejder’s shots were saved by Romero.
The first half of the extra time was exciting with both the teams trying desperately break the deadlock, superb passing skills were evident but no one succeeded to break the deadlock, in additional time Palacio’s venomous low cross beat the Dutch defence but Aguero missed the line.
In the dying stages of second half extra time Rodrgio Palacio headed straight into the palms of Cilliessen from close range in the 116th minute and in the very next minute Maxi Rodriguez’s volley on a Messi cross was too weak to beat the Dutch goalie.
Earlier in the game the first-half saw a cautious approach from both Argentina and the Netherlands probably taking lessons from Brazil’s disaster, as both sides adopted a ‘slow and steady’ strategy after kickoff . Sao Paulo’s peculiar weather cools drastically when it rains and the teams entered a chilly field which was ideal for hardwork minus the sweating.
The Dutch were patient with possession and left it up to Wesley Sneijder to provide incisive and sweeping passes while Argentina’s delivery man was Javier Mascherano who had Ezequel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain operating on the two flanks.
Argentina shaded possession 53% to 47%, meaning it was almost equal. The chances were also two a piece as neither of them enjoyed a full chance, all of them were half chances. In the 13th minute, Arjen Robben broke free past Mascherano and the ball ballooned to Dirk Kuyt whose square pass went to Sneijder but his ambitious half volley missed the right hand post of Romero.
Enzo Perez won a free kick at the left edge of Netherlands box but Messi’s low curved effort went straight to the hands of Jasper Cilliesen, the Ajax Amsterdam keeper. Ezequel Garray, the hardworking defender came close to a strike in the 24th minute when connected a Lavezzi corner but the ball floated over the crossbar.
The notable point was the key men of both the teams, Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben had been tamed by their opponent defenders, Messi however broke free on a few occasions but Robben’s never managed to shake his handlers.
After the resumption it was a touch and go affair as Argentina pressed forward while Netherlands also came out of the shell with sleek passing. The elements finally had a say in the game as midway through the second half it started to rain and the pitch became slippery.
Just after Robin van Persie tried an ambitious overhead kick on a Daryl Janmat cross that was off target in the 74th minute, Lavezzi sneaked through the left flank and cut a venomous low cross to Higauin who poked the ball into the outside net. Ron Vlarr, the tall Dutch defender who nullified Messi on a number of occasions and had super game was beaten by the curve.
Argentine coach Alajandro Sabella went out attacking in the last ten minutes as he inserted Rodrigo Palacio and Sergio Aguero in lifting the numbers of Argentine attackers to four but the ball in the last five minutes belonged to the Dutch and in the 91st minute Sneijder’s forward push was picked by Robben but his effort was cut out by Mascherano with a sliding tackle, nullifying Robben’s shot.