FIFA World Cup: Messi leads Argentina into semifinals, beats Netherlands on penalties
Lusail(AP/PTI): Lionel Messi's quest to win the World Cup moves into the semifinals after Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout on Friday.
Messi converted his penalty in the shootout and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Mart nez saved two attempts. Lautaro Martinez scored the clinching penalty.
The match finished 2-2 after extra time, with Messi scoring one goal and setting up another. The Netherlands equalized in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time.
Argentina will play Croatia in the semifinals on Tuesday after the 2018 runner-up beat Brazil earlier on Friday.
It is only the second time Argentina has reached the last four since 1990. In 2014, Messi was part of the team that lost to Germany in the final.
He looks in the mood to get there again in a tournament that he is turning into his own personal highlight reel.
When Lautaro Martinez's penalty hit the net, Messi didn't head to the striker unlike the rest of the team but sprinted to his goalkeeper and jumped into his arms.
Messi had produced a mesmerizing piece of skill to set up the opening goal for Nahuel Molina in the 35th minute and then converted a penalty in the 73rd to make it 2-0 with his fourth goal of this year's World Cup.
It took him to 10 goals in the World Cup, tied with Gabriel Batistuta for the most for Argentina, and 94 goals in total in his 169 international games.
The game was taken to extra time after a goal deep in second-half stoppage time by Wout Weghorst, who entered as a substitute in the 78th and made it 2-1 five minutes later.
It was the latest second-half goal scored in a knockout-stage game at a World Cup and was cleverly worked, with Teun Koopmeiners feinting to curl a free kick into the area only to play it short and deceive the Argentine defense. Weghorst took a touch, held off his marker and slotted home a finish on the stretch.
Thed game featured 17 yellow cards, including one for Messi, who had blood coming from his upper lip at one stage.
Enzo Fernandes hit the post near the end of extra time and was the only Argentina player to fail to score in the shootout.
The loss ended 71-year-old Louis van Gaal's third stint in charge of the Netherlands.
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House of BJP Minority Morcha's Manipur president torched for supporting Waqf Amendment Act
Imphal, Apr 6 (PTI): The house of the BJP Minority Morcha's Manipur president, Asker Ali, was set on fire by a mob on Sunday night allegedly for supporting the Waqf Amendment Act, officials said.
The incident happened at Lilong in Thoubal district, they said.
Ali had expressed his support for the Act on social media on Saturday.
An irate mob gathered outside his residence around 9 pm, vandalised it and later set it on fire, officials said.
Following the incident, Ali posted a video on social media, apologising for his earlier statement. He also expressed opposition to the Act.
Earlier in the day, protests were held in different parts of Imphal Valley against the Act.
Over 5,000 people participated in a rally that disrupted the traffic on NH 102 at Lilong.
In some places, the protesters got engaged in a scuffle with the security forces, officials said.
One such incident happened at Irong Chesaba in Thoubal in the morning. The scuffle broke out after the demonstrators were stopped by the security forces from moving forward.
The demonstrators raised slogans against the BJP-led government at the Centre, decrying the Act.
"The Waqf Amendment Act is against the ethos of the Constitution. It is completely unacceptable for the Muslim community," said Sakir Ahmed, a protester.
Protests were also held in Kshatri Awang Leikai, Kairang Muslim and Kiyamgei Muslim areas in Imphal East, and Sora in Thoubal district, among other places.
Security has been strengthened in Muslim-dominated areas of the Valley, with additional forces deployed, officials said.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday, and by the Rajya Sabha in the early hours of Friday after marathon debates in both Houses of Parliament.
The Act aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties (assets permanently donated by Muslims for religious or charitable purposes) with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare. It also seeks to improve governance by enhancing transparency in property management, streamlining coordination between Waqf boards and local authorities and protecting stakeholders’ rights.
President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the bill on Saturday.
Breaking:
— Dr. Lamtinthang Haokip (@DrLamtinthangHk) April 6, 2025
An angry mob of Lilong set fire to the house of @BJPManipur Minority Morcha President, Mr. Askar Ali Mkm for insulting fellow community & supporting the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. @rashtrapatibhvn @INCIndia @INCMinority @INCAdivasi @the_hindu… pic.twitter.com/PINixnXGma
