Argentina vs Netherlands semi-final penalty shootout - As it happened

Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-2 on penalties after the first scoreless semi in the tournament's history, with old foes Germany awaiting them in Sunday's showpiece. Here is a blow-by-blow account of how the penalties proceeded. Sergio Goycochea vs Sergio Romero | Match report| I taught Romero: Van Gaal

Argentina reached their first World Cup final in 24 years on Wednesday, beating the Netherlands 4-2 on penalties after the first scoreless semi in the tournament's history, with old foes Germany awaiting them in Sunday's showpiece.

Here is a blow-by-blow account of how the penalties proceeded.

Sergio Goycochea vs Sergio Romero | Match report| I taught Romero: Van Gaal

Netherlands (NED): Ron Vlaar

SAVED!

Vlaar keeps it low, but Romero judges it right and dives to his left to save the first penalty of the day.



NED 0-0 ARGArgentina (ARG) : Lionel Messi



GOAL!

The captain steps up to the challenge and coolly slots the ball over Cillessen.



NED 0-1 ARG

NED: Arjen Robben

GOAL!

Robben lands the ball into the bottom right corner as Romero dives in the wrong direction.



NED 1-1 ARGARG: Garay

GOAL!

He smashes the ball into the roof of the net. Cillessen has no chance.



NED 1-2 ARGNED: Sneijder

SAVED!

Romero comes up with his second save as he springs to his right to keep the shot out.



NED 1-2 ARG

ARG: Aguero
GOAL!

Cillessen judges it correctly and dives towards his right, but he is a millisecond late as the ball whizzes past him into the net.



NED 1-3 ARGNED: Dirk Kuyt

GOAL!





Now this is experience. He steps up and fires the ball into the right corner with ease.



NED 2-3 ARG



ARG: Maxi Rodriguez

GOAL!

Rodriguez scoring puts Argentina into the finals.



NED 2-4 ARG

( All photos from AFP, AP, REUTERS)