![Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after his team won the Qatar 2022](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2022/12/10/Argentina-s-forward--10-Lionel-Messi-celebrates-after-his-team-won-the-Qatar-2022-_184f9624e87_medium.jpg)
Doha: Argentina trounced The Netherlands 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout following a deadlock in extra time in the early hours of Saturday (December 10) in Qatar to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
The Netherlands had rarely troubled Argentina during the match before substitute Wout Weghorst's header in the 83rd minute sparked them into life and he rolled the ball past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez deep into stoppage time to send the game into extra time.
Argentina advance to semi-finals
![Messi World Cup Argentina vs Netherlands](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2022/12/10/Messi-World-Cup-Argentina-vs-Netherlands_184f8c72b7b_original-ratio.jpg)
Weghorst scored two late goals, including a stoppage-time leveller, after Argentina had led 2-0 through Nahuel Molina and Lionel Messi's penalty.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was Argentina's hero in the shootout, saving two spot-kicks as they won 4-3 on penalties.
![Argentina's Julián Álvarez vies for the ball during the match against Netherlands](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2022/12/10/Argentina-s-Juli-n--lvarez-vies-for-the-ball-during-the-match-against-Netherlands_184f96e595d_original-ratio.jpg)
The Netherlands had rarely troubled Argentina during the match before substitute Wout Weghorst's header in the 83rd minute sparked them into life and he rolled the ball past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez deep into stoppage time to send the game into extra time.
![Netherlands' forward #19 Wout Weghorst](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2022/12/10/Netherlands--forward--19-Wout-Weghorst-_184f8cdfd40_original-ratio.gif)
Argentina captain Lionel Messi had superbly set up Nahuel Molina for their first-half opener before coolly slotting in a penalty in the 73rd minute, but Weghorst's header 10 minutes later sparked the Netherlands into life and he scored again deep into stoppage time to send the contest into extra time.
![Netherlands players vs Argentina](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2022/12/10/Netherlands-players-vs-Argentina_184f8d6c9eb_original-ratio.jpg)
Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez saved penalties from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis before Lautaro Martinez scored the winning spot kick to secure them a 4-3 shootout win over the Netherlands after their World Cup quarter-final finished 2-2 after 120 minutes.
![Argentina fans vs Netherlands](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2022/12/10/Argentina-fans-vs-Netherlands_184f8d91dae_original-ratio.jpg)
In a scrappy half-hour of extra time with the scores level, Enzo Fernandez rattled the post in the closing seconds while Martinez and German Pezzella also had efforts blocked or parried away as Argentina desperately pushed for a winner.
![Netherlands' supporters react at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Netherlands and Argentina in Rotterdam, on December 9, 2022. - Argentina beat the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the early hours on December 9, 2022, after a dramatic 2-2 draw to reach the World Cup semi-finals.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2022/12/10/Netherlands--supporters-react-at-the-end-of-the-Qatar-2022-World-Cup-quarter-final-football-match-between-Netherlands-and-Argentina-in-Rotterdam--on-December-9--2022.---Argentina-beat-the-Netherlands-in-a-penalty-shootout-in-the-early-hours-on-December-9--2022--after-a-dramatic-2-2-draw-to-reach-the-World-Cup-semi-finals.-_184f96a3513_original-ratio.jpg)
Argentina will next face Croatia, who beat Brazil on penalties earlier, on Tuesday for a place in the World Cup finals.
![Spanish referee Antonio Mateu](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2022/12/10/Spanish-referee-Antonio-Mateu_184f8dd2056_original-ratio.jpg)