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Rom‘hero’ does it!
Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved two penalties in a shootout with the Netherlands on Wednesday to take his country through to the World Cup final for the first time since 1990.
Goalkeeper enlivens drab day to take Argentina to finals
Sao Paulo: Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved two penalties in a shootout with the Netherlands on Wednesday to take his country through to the World Cup final for the first time since 1990.
Lionel Messi's Argentina defeated the Dutch 4-2 in a penalty shootout after their cagey semi-final finished goalless here. They play Germany in Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro.
"We have given everything and I'm incredibly proud of this team," Dutch star striker Arjen Robben said after.
Messi had no answer to the Aston Villa centre-back's decisive interceptions, but the Barcelona superstar can nonetheless still hope to confirm his greatness in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday when he appears in his first World Cup final.
Although reserve goalkeeper Tim Krul had saved two penalties in Holland's shootout success against Costa Rica in the quarter-finals, coach Louis van Gaal kept faith in Jasper Cillessen this time.
Romero's saves from Vlaar and Sneijder put Argentina in a commanding position and with Messi, Ezequiel Garay and Sergio Aguero all scoring, it was left to Maxi Rodriguez to dispatch the spot-kick that sent Argentina into the final.
It was only Argentina's second win over the Netherlands in nine attempts -- their first since the 1978 World Cup final -- and it enabled Messi and his team-mates to pay appropriate homage to Argentine great Alfredo Di Stefano, who died on Monday aged 88.
Messi fired a free-kick through the Dutch wall but it was stopped by Cillessen, while Ezequiel Garay headed over at a corner.
Van Gaal sent on Daryl Janmaat for Bruno Martins Indi at half-time, while de Jong soldiered on until the 62nd minute before giving way for Jordy Clasie, who came on to make his first appearance in Brazil.
Holland belatedly registered a shot on target in the 99th minute, Romero saving from Robben.
Palacio and Maxi Rodriguez both squandered chances late in extra time for Argentina, but thanks to Romero, it mattered not.
Reduced to the role of spectator for much of a disppointing match, the 27-year-old Romero stepped forward to deny both Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder from the spot.
And with Messi quiet throughout the evening, that allowed Romero to be hailed the hero, even if he admitted luck played its part.
