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Argentina national football team
World Cup | Quarter-Finals
Jul 5, 2014 at 5pm UK
 
Belgium national football team

1-0

Higuain (8')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Argentina oust Belgium to reach World Cup semi-finals

Gonzalo Higuain's eighth-minute strike is enough for Argentina to overcome Belgium in Brasilia and reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Gonzalo Higuain's eighth-minute strike was enough for Argentina to overcome Belgium in Brasilia and reach the semi-finals of the World Cup this afternoon.

Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain celebrates with teammates Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi and Lucas Biglia after scoring the opening goal against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup quarter-final in Brasilia on July 5, 2014© Getty Images

The one and only goal came in the early stages when Higuain accurately volleyed a bouncing ball into the far corner after Angel di Maria's pass deflected kindly his way.

It was the Napoli striker's first goal for his country since August 2013 and the first goal from open play that Belgium had conceded in normal time at the tournament.

Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain scores the opening goal of the 2014 World Cup quarter-final against Belgium in Brasilia on July 5, 2014© AFP

Belgium's only real chance in the first half fell to Kevin Mirallas, whose low header from Jan Vertonghen's cross fizzed a yard past the post.

Lionel Messi's best effort of the first half came just before the break when he curled a 19-yard free kick just over the crossbar.

Higuain was inches away from a second 10 minutes after the interval when he nutmegged Vincent Kompany to bear down on goal and shot against the crossbar from 15 yards.

Marouane Fellaini then had a chance to equalise from another Vertonghen cross, but couldn't direct his header on target.

Lionel Messi of Argentina is challenged by Axel Witsel of Belgium (R) during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Quarter Final match on July 5, 2014© Getty Images

Messi had a glorious chance to kill the game off when he ran clear on the break in added time and was denied by Thibaut Courtois's sprawling save.

Belgium stormed up the other end and had an opening of their own when Romelu Lukaku rolled his man in the area but couldn't pick out a teammate in the middle. The loose ball fell to Axel Witsel, who could only blaze the last shot of the game over the bar.

The winner of tonight's last quarter-final between Netherlands and Costa Rica await Argentina in the semi-final.

Argentina's midfielder Angel Di Maria lies on the ground during a quarter-final football match against Belgium on July 5, 2014© Getty Images

The Albiceleste may be without Angel di Maria after he was forced off through injury in the opening half.

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Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain scores the opening goal of the 2014 World Cup quarter-final against Belgium in Brasilia on July 5, 2014
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