World Cup results: Argentina drops Belgium 1-0

Belgium and Argentina are squaring off in quarterfinals action at the 2014 World Cup on Saturday. The “Red Devils” defeated the World Cup and advanced on to face Argentina in the quarterfinals, while Argentina got past Switzerland to set up this meeting.

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Things aren’t going the way the Belgians had hoped for and they find themselves on the defensive early on in the game, much like the U.S. did against the “Red Devils” in their “Round of 16” match up.

A Vincent Kompany errant pass as a result of pressure gave Argentina the ball back. They then came back on the attack and Ángel Di María sent a through ball that didn’t make it through. Instead it hit Jan Vertonghen’s leg and landed at Gonzalo Higuaín’s feet.

Higuaín booted it on goal and the ball flew beautifully through the air, beating Thibaut Courtois on the left post, giving Argentina the lead in the first eight minutes of the game.

Argentina remained in control but the squad took a hit later in the first half. Midfielder Ángel Di María, who set up the Higuaín goal earlier in the game, was taking the ball into the box on his own against Belgium captain and defender Vincent Kompany.

Di María switched directions before firing off a shot that missed the mark, Di María walked away for a couple of steps before laying on the ground. Di María was attended too, and then walked off the field to be subbed off and replaced by Enzo Perez.

It is a big loss for Argentina that could impact the game.

Higuaín nearly had another goal at Kompany’s expense. On a brilliant run in around the 55th minute, Higuaín put the ball through Kompany’s legs to come in on keeper Courtois all alone. Higuaín beat Courtois with a hard strike, Courtois going low and Higuaín going high.

Higuaín just went too high and it sailed over the cross-bar.

Marouane Fellaini missed an opportunity to tie the game later in the second half. A long cross came into the box and Fellaini got a head on it but was unable to get the ball into the back of the net.

The Belgian attack kept coming though and they had a corner kick that provided a good opportunity to get the equalizer in the 89th minute, but it didn’t result in a shot on goal. A miscue later almost resulted in another Belgian opportunity, but a handball ended the play.

In stoppage time Lionel Messi got the ball and was headed in on goal all alone. It looked like Messi was going to give them a 2-0 head and a win, but Courtois came up big and kept him from scoring.

Moments later Belgium almost had an opportunity, but weren’t able to find the back of the net. Argentina held on to win 1-0 and will face the winner of the Netherlands-Costa Rica game in the semifinals.

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