Gonzalo Higuain’s instinctive strike gave Argentina a 1-0 win over Belgium to book a World Cup semi-final spot.

Gonzalo Higuain’s instinctive strike gave Argentina a 1-0 win over Belgium to book a World Cup semi-final spot.

Both sides had won every game in the tournament so far, albeit with one-goal margins and going to extra time in the Round of 16. Marcos Rojo was suspended and made way for Fiorentina” data-scaytid=”3″>Fiorentina target Jose Basanta, while Martin Demichelis and Lazio’s” data-scaytid=”6″>Lazio’s Lucas Biglia were preferred to Federico Fernandez and Fernando Gago. Belgium had Anthony Vanden Borre injured, but Romelo Lukaku was again benched in favour of teenager Divock Origi.

Gonzalo Higuain’s performances had been poor so far in this tournament, but the Napoli hitman broke the deadlock with a splendid half-volley from the edge of the box, readjusting immediately to meet a lucky ricochet. Pipita became only the second Napoli player to score in a World Cup knockout round after Diego Maradona in 1986.

Kevin De Bruyne stung Sergio Romero’s gloves from distance, then an inspired Messi through ball found Angel Di Maria only for Vincent Kompany to crucially charge down the shot.

However, Di Maria pulled a thigh muscle during that move and hobbled off to make way for Enzo Perez. Argentina continued to have the better of the game and Messi’s free kick skimmed the crossbar, but Kevin Mirallas went extremely close with a diving header inches wide.

After the restart Higuain cut in from the left only for his shot to be deflected just past the upright off Daniel Van Buyten. Thibaut Courtois fingertipped a Messi free kick off the head of Demichelis, but Higuain came so close to a second when he nutmegged Kompany only for a fierce strike to cannon off the crossbar.

Ezequiel Garay almost scored an own goal when sliding in to prevent a Romelu Lukaku tap-in, but Sergio Romero was alert. Belgium tried to push forward more in the final stages, but failed to make a dent in the Albiceleste back line.

In fact, Thibaut Courtois had to rush off his line to charge down Messi’s counter-attack in stoppages. At the other end, Lukaku’s pull-back was desperately cleared and Axel Witsel blasted the follow-up over the bar.

Argentina go into their first World Cup semi-final since 1990, where they will face Holland or Costa Rica.

Argentina 1-0 Belgium

Scorers: Higuain 8 (A)

Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Demichelis, Basanta; Biglia, Mascherano, Di Maria (Perez 33); Lavezzi (Palacio 70), Messi, Higuain (Gago 81)

Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen; Fellaini, Witsel; Mirallas (Mertens 59), De Bruyne, E Hazard (Chadli 75); Origi (Lukaku 59)

Ref: Rizzoli (ITA)

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