Argentina secured a dramatic 4-3 penalty-shootout win over the Netherlands in their quarter-final clash to keep Lionel Messi's dream of a FIFA World Cup alive.La Albiceleste were the better side in a drab first half and made the breakthrough in the 35th minute, thanks to brilliance from the irrepressible Lionel Messi.The 35-year-old glided his way through midfield before sending an inch-perfect pass to wing-back Nahuel Molina who poked home a vital opener.Oranje managed just one shot in the first 45 minutes, their joint-lowest in a FIFA World Cup game since 1966.It was a first half with few chances, but the second-half drama set to unfold was remarkable.Louis van Gaal's men came out with an equalizer on their minds, but they struggled to conjure up any real attacking threat.Argentina then took a 2-0 lead in the 72nd minute when Lionel Messi struck from the penalty spot after Denzel Dumfries brought down Marcos Acuna.Messi stepped up and fired home a cool penalty to extend Argentina's lead.However, the Dutch gave La Albiceleste a nervy finish when Wout Weghorst stepped off the bench in the 78th minute and struck a fantastic 83rd-minute finish.Van Gaal's side bombarded Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's goal in the dying embers.Steven Berghuis smashed an effort against the side netting in the 85th minute.Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz drew the ire of the Netherlands. He handed out 13 yellow cards throughout a controversial performance.However, he added 10 minutes on, much to Dutch delight.It had seemed Argentina were heading into the semi-finals to play Croatia, but Weghorst had other ideas.The 30-year-old stunned La Albiceleste and the world in the 90+11th minute.Teun Koopmeiners played a clever free-kick into the Argentine box, which found Weghorst.He stabbed the ball past Emiliano Martinez and wheeled away in delight as the drama reached fever pitch.Extra time arrived, and it was tense, with both sides eager to get a foothold in a game that became somewhat of a fitness battle.Lautaro Martinez and Enzo Fernandez saw deflected efforts go close as the game headed into the final moments of extra time.Fernandez hit the post in the 130th minute as the game went to penalties after a 2-2 draw.Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk stepped up to take the first but saw his penalty denied by the heroic Emiliano Martinez.Messi had no problem converting his spot-kick, and Emiliano Martinez then denied Berghuis.Argentina's Leandro Paredes scored, as did Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners and Argentine Gonzalo Montiel.Enzo Fernandez shot wide with the game at stake after Weghorst netted his penalty. Luuk de Jong then gave the Dutch hope by dispatching his.However, it was up to Lautaro Martinez to send Argentina through to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup, and he did just that.Here are some reactions from fans on Twitter to a remarkable game:FÚTBOL ARGENTINO 🇦🇷@TodaLaPrimeraA ¡HOY JUEGA ARGENTINA!11637111133🇦🇷 ¡HOY JUEGA ARGENTINA! https://t.co/WwAESTzYOlJ.@MessilizerThat was one of the most stressful games I’ve ever watched in my life, I am struggling to breathe. Messi pulled through, Argentina in the end pulled through, 2 MORE GAMES FOR THE TROPHY 998164That was one of the most stressful games I’ve ever watched in my life, I am struggling to breathe. Messi pulled through, Argentina in the end pulled through, 2 MORE GAMES FOR THE TROPHY 🇦🇷Joel Beya@joelbeyaGive Messi the trophy this is definitely his World Cup584Give Messi the trophy this is definitely his World CupJake Paul@jakepaulARGENTINA OMFG MESSI THE GOAT956102ARGENTINA OMFG MESSI THE GOATOwuraku Ampofo@_owurakuampofoEmiliano Martinez, the man who decided the GOAT debate.#FIFAWorldCup15712Emiliano Martinez, the man who decided the GOAT debate.#FIFAWorldCup https://t.co/d3NOQ02olISquawka@SquawkaArgentina have now won more penalty shoot-outs than any other nation in World Cup history (5). #FIFAWorldCup21060Argentina have now won more penalty shoot-outs than any other nation in World Cup history (5). 🙌#FIFAWorldCup https://t.co/cG4dUukZsiSamuel Luckhurst@samuelluckhurstThe Netherlands needed to parachute Tim Krul in.20619The Netherlands needed to parachute Tim Krul in.OptaJoe@OptaJoe2 - Wout Weghorst has become the first ever substitute to score twice in a World Cup match for Netherlands. His equaliser was timed at 100:30 - the latest second half goal in a World Cup knockout stage game since Opta have exact goal times (from 1966). Saviour.10312542 - Wout Weghorst has become the first ever substitute to score twice in a World Cup match for Netherlands. His equaliser was timed at 100:30 - the latest second half goal in a World Cup knockout stage game since Opta have exact goal times (from 1966). Saviour. https://t.co/3oKSPTXoQU𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎@TheEuropeanLadMY F*CKING TEAM4190220MY F*CKING TEAM https://t.co/QVppNSwIZmTroll Football@TrollFootballMac Allister lying behind the Argentina wall watching Weghorst equalise1290168Mac Allister lying behind the Argentina wall watching Weghorst equalise https://t.co/Z6FdAOtUxHMarky ☄@Mark0s__Referee is giving unlimited yellow cards Referee is giving unlimited yellow cards 😂😂😂That's Football!@ThatsFootballTVWout Weghorst conjuring up some magic vs Argentina…1438175Wout Weghorst conjuring up some magic vs Argentina… https://t.co/gWe40VvEUTFabrizio Romano@FabrizioRomanoIt’s World Cup goals in Lionel Messi career. #Qatar2022 #Messi8701959It’s 🔟 World Cup goals in Lionel Messi career. ⭐️🇦🇷 #Qatar2022 #Messi https://t.co/n7JrIyMdJqJoe Thomlinson@joethomlinsonThere are people that will watch Messi play passes like that and still think Ronaldo is a better footballer btw 3417506There are people that will watch Messi play passes like that and still think Ronaldo is a better footballer btw 💀Gary Lineker 💙💛@GaryLinekerArgentina lead through Molina. How? Just how does Messi do this shit? Mind-blowingly brilliant.215272229Argentina lead through Molina. How? Just how does Messi do this shit? Mind-blowingly brilliant.433@433Just Messi things 🤷‍♂️🧠157251126Just Messi things 🤷‍♂️🧠 https://t.co/mcuAHy7ldhTroll Football@TrollFootballArgentina team in a pic115211447Argentina team in a pic https://t.co/TQWNhPgfsTKFC UK@KFC_UKIUnited fans watching a Van Gaal side struggling to create chances535United fans watching a Van Gaal side struggling to create chances https://t.co/5iWq18U2sJworld cup tweets@joneswaIkereven if argentina doesn’t win the world cup, which they most likely will, messi is 100% winning the golden balleven if argentina doesn’t win the world cup, which they most likely will, messi is 100% winning the golden ballDuncan Alexander@oilysailorWout Weghorst now has more World Cup knockout goals than Cristiano Ronaldo28164Wout Weghorst now has more World Cup knockout goals than Cristiano RonaldoAsad🇵🇸@asxd_98Weghorst dunked on that midget LOOOL5312Weghorst dunked on that midget LOOOL https://t.co/8q3Gq7Ud2bhappy honidays ✨@HoniAhmthe thing about argentina is that if you're an argentina supporter, you never feel more nervous than when they're playing with the lead lmao twitter.com/RoyNemer/statu…Roy Nemer@RoyNemerProbably the assist of the World Cup by Lionel Messi. It's all very tight but Alexis Mac Allister playing vey well, as is Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo. The back line has been solid.4486Probably the assist of the World Cup by Lionel Messi. It's all very tight but Alexis Mac Allister playing vey well, as is Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo. The back line has been solid.the thing about argentina is that if you're an argentina supporter, you never feel more nervous than when they're playing with the lead lmao twitter.com/RoyNemer/statu…Hac1@DonHaciThe referee in Argentina's dressing room after the game30244The referee in Argentina's dressing room after the game https://t.co/Yf0uyx5LUaFootballJOE@FootballJOEArgentina fans seeing 10 minutes added time20823Argentina fans seeing 10 minutes added time https://t.co/bysprDNJLHSara 🦋@SaraFCBiArgentina has scored 9 goals in this tournament.Leo Messi has been involved in 6 of them .996115Argentina has scored 9 goals in this tournament.Leo Messi has been involved in 6 of them 🇦🇷🐐. https://t.co/31N6TOyGf5When do Lionel Messi's Argentina face Croatia in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals?Lionel Messi's FIFA World Cup journey continuesLionel Messi heads into the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup to face the 2018 runners-up Croatia.The two nations will battle on Tuesday, 13 December at the Lusail Stadium.This is Messi's fifth and final World Cup tournament, and he is on course to win the tournament for the first time.Croatia beat Brazil on penalties on the same day as Argentina secured a dramatic shootout win over the Netherlands.