With a goal and assist, Lionel Messi appeared to have Argentina with one foot in the semifinals; that is, until the Netherlands mounted an incredible last-minute comeback to force extra time behind two goals from second-half substitute Wout Weghorst.
But just like in the 2014 semifinals, when Argentina defeated the Netherlands on penalties, Messi & Co. prevailed in a nailbiting shootout. Argentina will now face Croatia in the semifinals after the side outlasted Brazil in a penalty-kick shootout earlier in the day.
The Albiceleste didn’t make it easy for themselves though, even after establishing a 2–0 lead in a feisty match that ended with 15 cards issued. After earning a yellow card earlier in the match for yelling at the referee while on the bench, Weghorst was called into action by manager Louis van Gaal in the 78th minute to change the Dutch’s stale approach. Five minutes later, Weghorst notched a goal. And then, 11 minutes into stoppage time, he fired home another off a jaw-dropping free-kick routine to force extra time with a 2–2 scoreline.
