2014 World Cup - Quarterfinals - Argentina vs Belgium
Argentina 1 vs Belgium 0 - "An
absolute borefest where Belgium demonstrates their defensive prowess
and offensive ineptitude. Somehow, Messi will be involved in the winning goal..."
As billed... the Belgians splutter while the Argentine's capitalize.
Initially, Los Gauchos forced the Red Devils backwards with aggressive passing and movement. The Belgians countered with conservative and precise mid field ball control.
At 8' Belgian defender Kompany makes a fatal error just above the box, giving up possession on a heavy touch to Mascherano, who slipped the ball to Messi...
Messi spun and and fed DiMaria, normally the pass would have been innocuous and easily defended...
as it was errant, the ball deflected off Vertonghens backheel, and serendipitously broke to Higuain at the edge of the area...
as three Belgian defenders and the goalie are caught wrong footed on the break,
he instinctively sweeps it on the fly between two of them, into the bottom corner of the net.
The uncharacteristic Belgian defensive breakdown and fortuitous pingponging of the ball would be all Los Gauchos would need.
At 32' striker/attacking midfielder DiMaria limped off with a right thigh muscle tear, it is thought he will be sidelined for the remainder of the tournament.
Up a goal and down a striker, any serious Argentine attack is done for the day. Los Gauchos are content to disrupt the games rhythm and corral the offensively inept Belgians at midfield.
At 52' Lavezzi sends a ball across the face of the Belgian goal. Courtois can't reach it, but neither can anyone else.
At 55' a nice run by Higuain, past 3 defenders, slipping the ball between Kompany's legs, ends with his shot flying past Courtois and banging off the crossbar.
The Belgians were contained until 85' when they finally moved everyone forward and Lukaku and Van Buyten peppered Romero for the last nine minutes of the match. Witsel's volley and Fellaini's header both sailed over the bar to no avail.
At 94' a breakdown in the Belgian advance resulted in Messi making a run at Courtois who came up with a big block that only delayed the inevitable Argentine victory.
As billed... the Belgians splutter while the Argentine's capitalize.
Initially, Los Gauchos forced the Red Devils backwards with aggressive passing and movement. The Belgians countered with conservative and precise mid field ball control.
At 8' Belgian defender Kompany makes a fatal error just above the box, giving up possession on a heavy touch to Mascherano, who slipped the ball to Messi...
Messi spun and and fed DiMaria, normally the pass would have been innocuous and easily defended...
as it was errant, the ball deflected off Vertonghens backheel, and serendipitously broke to Higuain at the edge of the area...
as three Belgian defenders and the goalie are caught wrong footed on the break,
he instinctively sweeps it on the fly between two of them, into the bottom corner of the net.
The uncharacteristic Belgian defensive breakdown and fortuitous pingponging of the ball would be all Los Gauchos would need.
At 32' striker/attacking midfielder DiMaria limped off with a right thigh muscle tear, it is thought he will be sidelined for the remainder of the tournament.
Up a goal and down a striker, any serious Argentine attack is done for the day. Los Gauchos are content to disrupt the games rhythm and corral the offensively inept Belgians at midfield.
At 52' Lavezzi sends a ball across the face of the Belgian goal. Courtois can't reach it, but neither can anyone else.
At 55' a nice run by Higuain, past 3 defenders, slipping the ball between Kompany's legs, ends with his shot flying past Courtois and banging off the crossbar.
The Belgians were contained until 85' when they finally moved everyone forward and Lukaku and Van Buyten peppered Romero for the last nine minutes of the match. Witsel's volley and Fellaini's header both sailed over the bar to no avail.
At 94' a breakdown in the Belgian advance resulted in Messi making a run at Courtois who came up with a big block that only delayed the inevitable Argentine victory.
Comments