8/12/2019 World Cup 2014 - Netherlands vs Argentina
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Pentalties:
The Netherlands' Cillessen is in goal for the shootout, not
Krol, as in the previous match. For Argentina, it's Romero.
The rain has eased up a bit as the Dutch win the coin flip and
get the advantageous first man at-bat.
Round One: Romero drives left to block Vlaar on a weak try.
Messi goes high foran easy one. Argentina 1-0.
Round Two: A more seasoned Dutch shooter, Robben, nails it.
Defender Ezekial Garay scorches it into the roof of the net.
Argentina 2-1.
Round Three: Sneidjer aims high, but Romero is there with a
mighty save. Cillessen gets close to Aguero's low ball to the left,
but misses. Argentina 3-1.
Round Four: Dirk Kuyt keeps the Dutch alive with a make. Up
steps Rodriguez, a substitute in the 100th minute. He salts it away
for Argentina, which takes the shootout 4-2.
Extra time:
Part II of OT begins with an injury to Argentine defender Pablo
Zabaleta. He istreated on the field for a cut near the chin,
changes into a blood-less jersey on the sideline and, with
absorbent gauze in his mouth, returns to action.
Argentina generates some late chances. In the 116th minute,
Palacio jitters pastthe defense and tries to head a bouncing ball,
but gets little push on it.
Shortly thereafter, Messi makes a trademark cross from near the
goal line to Rodriguez, who cannot get his foot solidly on it. The
struck ball bounces once, into Cillessen's grasp.
Before the shootout arrives, the Dutch get a half-chance, but
this game is heading to penalty kicks.
105th minute
As the overtime begins, many eyes are on the Dutch sideline,
where goalkeeper Tim Krul, the star of the quarterfinals win, is
loosening up for the possible penalty kicks tie-breaker. But he
will not be called on because they use the final substitute for van
Persie, who was questionable with a stomach ailment. On
comesKlaas-Jan Huntelaar, and starting keeper Cillessen now knows
he would be the manfor the shootout.
The tireless Robben is playing as if he were preserving energy.
He hits a blazerthat finds the midsection of Romero. Minutes later,
his advancement is impededby a turnover that involved plenty of
contact, angering the Dutchman. At least h
e did not dive.
Argentina appears content to accept a shootout, as suggested by
its defensive-oriented switch of Maxi Rodriguez for Lavezzi. Still
0-0 after the first half of OT.
Regular time:90th minute
8/12/2019 World Cup 2014 - Netherlands vs Argentina
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Argentina makes a pair of substitutions in the 81st minute.
Sergio Aguero, who had been projected to start for the injured di
Maria, and Rodrigio Palacio come on for Perez and Higuain.
Aguero can become a hero if he converts from inside the box at a
sharp angle. Hecannot pivot sufficiently to threaten.
Robben gets a dribbling run deep into the box at the start of
stoppage time, only to be denied by Mascherano on a clinical
tackle.
Regulation expires without a score. The Netherlands, in fact,
just managed its first attempt on goal. It's on to overtime -- and,
by all appearances, a shootout.
80th minute
The skies open after an hour of play. The rain might cut down on
the exhaustionrate, though the players have largely taken care of
that themselves with a cautious approach.
With 15 minutes remaining, the shots count is up to six, four by
Argentina. EvenMessi is out of sorts, badly hitting a free kick. An
earlier corner kick probably was the worst of his illustrious
career.
Janmaat and van Persie breathe some life into the Netherlands by
combining for what creates a van Persie bicycle kick. It veers over
the bar, and Argentina rushes down for an apparent goal that is
promptly wiped off the board for offside.
65th minute
The Dutch remove Martins Indi, perhaps fearing another yellow
card on the overlyforceful defender. Daryl Janmaat slides in.
Predictably, the flow picks up, particularly with the Dutch as
Robben finally announces his presence.
The first inviting chance for either side comes almost an hour
into the game. A
cross from the corner by Argentina's Ezequiel Lavezzi lands at
the head of Gonzalo Higuain. His header goes directly into the
ground.
De Jong, the unexpected Dutch starter in midfield because of a
groin injury, comes off in favor of Jordy Clasie.
Halftime
An uneventful first half ended not only scoreless, but nearly
shot-less. With plenty of firepower on both sides, Argentina
registers two attempts, one more thanthe Netherlands. At times, the
teams seem more interested in controlling the ball than doing
something productive with it.
The Dutch swarm Messi whenever he is on the dribble. A foul on a
high-placed elbow sends a message that he will not be given license
to roam free. Late in the period, Bruno Martins Indi is issued a
yellow card for tripping the Argentine.
Messi does line up for a direct free knick from a few yards
outside the box, a danger area for the Dutch. But goalkeeper Jasper
Cillessen swallows up the ball.
Both sides survive injury scares. Argentina midfielder gets the
worse of a bumping of heads, stays down for awhile, then returns
after presumably being medically cleared. The Netherlands' Wesley
Sneidjer limps off the field, gets his lower
