Former Arsenal goalkeeper was one of Argentina’s heroes in their victory against Netherlands.

Lautaro Martinez held his nerve and belted the ball as Andries Noppert dived the wrong way. The Albiceleste were through on penalties in a gripping match that saw Leo Messi magic, a Wout Weghorst brace bringing Dutch back from the brink, an Emi Martinez masterclass in goalkeeping saves, and plenty of argy bargy resulting in 18 yellow cards in a feisty encounter for the ages.

For about 80 minutes this was all Argentina with a sedated Dutch barely raising a pulse. Messi had already stamped his imprint with a brilliant no look pinpoint diagonal picking out Nahuel Molina in the 25th minute through a maze of defenders as the right wing back burst through the box. Molina was able to see off a robust challenge to toe poke the ball past Noppert.

Argentina created a slew of chances in between but Noppert came up with some big saves to keep them from adding to their tally. The damage limitation worked till the 72nd minute when Denzel Dumfries swiped Marcos Acuna’s legs off him as he entered the box on the left. No doubts as to who would be stepping up to take the penalty. Messi was clinical, with a minimum of back lift, generating enough power and swerve for the ball to nestle at the back of the net. Noppert had no chance. The match was for all purpose done and dusted with Lionel Scaloni bringing on Nicolas Tagliafico and German Pezzella soon after to close down shop. Netherlands had done little to inspire any thoughts of a comeback.

Enter Wout Weghorst in the 78th minute, a classic Sean Dyche purchase, and at 6′ 7″, a towering physical presence. The Burnley forward on loan to Besiktas teamed up with fellow titan, Luuk De Jong, creating a whole lot of high rise real estate. Immediately, the Dutch went long ball and in the 83rd minute Weghorst glanced a Steve Berghuis cross with his head past Emi Martinez. The Louis Van Gaal roll of dice had worked and the Dutch were back in it. In the 87th minute, Leandro Paredes clattered into the back of Luuk De Jong, senselessly conceding a free kick. In what will surely be one of the classic moments in World Cup history, Teun Koopmeiners, a second half substitute shaped to unleash a shot but instead rolled the ball as the Argentinian wall jumped and then watch nonplussed as Weghorst gathered the ball with his right foot, wheel, and stroke the ball with his left past Martinez. The Dutch went delirious. Additional time came and went. The goalkeepers took centerstage, a theme in Qatar.

Which goalkeeper would come through and who on the spot would blink? And it was former Arsenal goalie, Emi Martinez who came up big, saving Virgil Van Dijk and then Berghuis’s effort, the latter a superbly timed leap to palm the ball two handed. For the Albiceleste, Messi lead by example lining up for the first penalty and stroking it in with a minimum of fuss.

This match would be remiss if one does not mention the number of bookings Some less deserving as referee Antonio Lahoz seemed trigger happy with the cards. In all 18 of them were doled out, a record. Including Lionel Scaloni, the Argentinian manager and his assistant Walter Samuel, sitting on the Argentina bench and Wout Weghorst before he came on. Denzel Dumfries whose second yellow resulted in a red. Messi was not happy.

Highlights >>