Game # 59 - QF3 Argentina vs Belgium
Jul. 6th, 2014 11:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catalyst2A wonderful reflex shot from Higuain in just the 8th minute put Argentina into an early lead. Belgium never really generated much of a reply as Argentina's defence easily dealt with anything Belgium tried. Di Maria went off injured so the Argentina attack became even more reliant on Messi and he stepped up to the mark with a free kick that only just went over the bar. Belgium's sole significant chance went begging as Mirallas headed wide.
The second half saw much of the same with Huguain having two more close attempts early, Courtois dealing with both well. Belgium finally got some attacks strung together and produced a fine save off Romero to avoid a deflected own goal from Garay. The Argentina defence tightened up still further and Belgium never really looked threatening again. Surprisingly, almost every Belgium attack for about the last twenty minutes was via the classic long ball - a tactic that a skilled and disciplined defence like Argentina's had no trouble dealing with at all. Messi very nearly scored Argentina's second but yet another fine save from Courtois kept the score to 1-0.
Argentina are through to their first semifinals since 1990.
The second half saw much of the same with Huguain having two more close attempts early, Courtois dealing with both well. Belgium finally got some attacks strung together and produced a fine save off Romero to avoid a deflected own goal from Garay. The Argentina defence tightened up still further and Belgium never really looked threatening again. Surprisingly, almost every Belgium attack for about the last twenty minutes was via the classic long ball - a tactic that a skilled and disciplined defence like Argentina's had no trouble dealing with at all. Messi very nearly scored Argentina's second but yet another fine save from Courtois kept the score to 1-0.
Argentina are through to their first semifinals since 1990.
