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| Higuain's early goal was enough for ARG to win .Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Gonzalo Higuain’s goal at the 8th minute in the first half lifted Argentina to their first World Cup semifinal appearance since 1990.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
A critical turnover at midfield by Vincent Kompany led to some precision passing. Lionel Messi fed Angel Di Maria to the right side of the field. A lucky bounce on a pass from Di Maria to Pablo Zabaleta that deflected off Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen to Higuain who spun around and blasted a volley shot past Thibaut Courtois into the far left corner of the net.
At the 26th minute Kevin De Bruyne right footed strike from outside the box was saved by goal keeper Sergio Romero that was headed towards the bottom left corner of the net.
Messi came very close to netting a goal in the 39th minute off a free kick but the ball just topped over the crossbar. In the 41st minute Kevin Mirallas’s header from close range in the box went wide left of the net.
Five minutes into the second half, Higuain almost scored his second goal of the match when his shot inside the box deflected off a Belgium defender landing just left of the goal net.
A few minutes later Messi’s free kick attempt was swatted away by the right hand of Courtois, preventing Argentina from getting that elusive insurance goal.
Higuain continued to be assertive as he burst through the box at the 55th minute hammering a shot that glanced off the crossbar. Messi had an opportunity to seal the contest in stoppage time but his breakaway attempt shot inside the box was kicked out by Courtois.
Argentina faces the Netherlands in San Paolo next Wednesday. 