FIFA World Cup: Dutch overcome Costa Rica on penalties for semis berth

Salvador Brazil Substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul turned out to be the unlikely hero at the Arena Fonte Nova here Saturday as the Netherlands beat Costa Rica 43 on penalties to set up a mouthwatering FIFA World Cup semifinal clash against Argentina WednesdayIn a masterstroke from Dutch coach Louis van Gaal Newcastle United keeper Krul came on as a last gasp substitute for Jasper Cillessen who had just minutes back made a brilliant save to keep the scores goallessNetherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul celebrates after making a save from Costa Ricas forward and captain Bryan Ruiz not pictured during the penalty shout out of a quarterfinal football match between Netherlands and Costa Rica at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup PicAFPKrul justified his substitution as he made two fine saves to end Costa Ricas dream run in the competitionFor a country that has not win a single penalty shootout in World Cup finals the Dutch were clinical from the spot kick Their four penalties Robin van Persie Arjen Robben Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt all hit the side netting giving Costa Rica goalie no chanceThe Netherlands would have expected to beat their Central American opponents in the first 90 minutes but they found stiff Costa Rican defence in the wayCosta Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas was the difference between a comfortable Dutch win and a the score being goalless at the end of the 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of extra timeThe woodwork came to the rescue twice for Costa Rica as they held onto take the Netherlands to penaltiesPatience was the name of the game in the first half as both teams were extremely slow in possessionThe Netherlands and Costa Rica went into the break goalless partly thanks to the goalkeeping heroics of NavasThe Netherlands had lions share of possession and created the two best chances of the half while Costa Rica failed to force even a single save out of Jasper CillessenSneijder and Van Persie had their goalbound shots beaten away by the amazing Keylor NavasFor Costa Rica Celso Borges was an aerial threat while Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell showed in flashes what they are capable ofCosta Rica though were no threat going forward and posed little danger to Cillessens goalThe Dutch had 67 percent of the possession in the first half but the killer instinct they showed in their 51 decimation of Spain earlier in the tournament was lackingThe beginning of the second half saw much of the same play being adopted by both teamsThe Netherlands held the ball but couldnt do much with it while Costa Rica too often gave the ball away cheaplyArjen Robben had a more productive start to the half and was the only bright spark for a misfiring Dutch attackBut as the half progressed both teams started taking more risks thus opening spaces for playersSneijder was the main hub for Dutch creativity picking out diagonal passes and looking to drive at the Costa Rican defence and commit defenders to the ballThe Netherlands were comfortable on the ball but their opposition were happy to surrender possession Costa Rica relied solely on quick counter attacks with Ruiz and Campbell combing well on occasionsCatch all the FIFA World Cup 2014 action hereThe game though exploded in the last 10 minutes as the Dutch went on all out attackSneijder hit the bar from swerving freekick while Robin van Persie missed a hatful of chancesIn a dramatic end to the 90 minutes where the two sides couldnt be separated Costa Rica somehow survived a tremendous goalmouth scramble thanks to Yeltsin Tejadas goalline save and the crossbarDaley Blinds ball across the sixyard box missed everyone before Van Persie cannoned a ferocious effort at goal but it hit Tejada before clattering onto the crossbarThe first half of extra time saw Dutch pressurise the Costa Rica defence They didnt seem to be in any rush in possession while the Central Americans clearly looked to be playing for the dreaded penalty shootoutIn the second half of extra time Louis van Gaal opted to make his second change deploying Klaas Jan Huntelaar in attack to bolster his misfiring Oranje optionsMartins Indi was replaced as the Dutch went for brokeSneijder hit the frame work of the goal for the second time in a frantic end to the extra time where both teams could have won it