The semifinals are set in this Soccer Blast Express World Cup. Three of the teams are what you might expect: Argentina II, Brazil II, and Netherlands. They’re joined by a highly surprising fourth team in British Isles. British Isles posted the only “easy” win in the quarterfinals, earning a 2-0 victory over Eastern Europe. Argentina II and Netherlands both recorded one-goal wins, and Brazil II needed penalties to advance.
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Argentina II 2, Italy I 1
Lionel Messi’s brace sent Argentina through to the semifinals. He scored in the first half in the run of play, and then in the second half from the penalty spot to make it 2-0. Italy got one back from Valentino Mazzola and then had a golden chance on the game’s final kick, but Argentina goalkeeper Mariano Andujar made a big save to preserve the victory.
16′ yellow card ARG Daniel Passarella
18′ GOAL ARG Lionel Messi
24′ save ARG GK Mariano Andujar
27′ yellow card ITA Sandro Mazzola
55′ yellow card ITA Giacinto Facchetti
55′ GOAL ARG Lionel Messi (penalty kick)
60′ GOAL ITA Valentino Mazzola (Gaetano Scirea assist)
78′ yellow card ITA Silvio Piola
90+’ save ARG GK Mariano Andujar
Netherlands 3, Scandinavia 2
Scandinavia took a 2-0 lead less than a half-hour in, but couldn’t maintain their advantage. Netherlands made it 2-1 by halftime, then scored twice early in the second half, and held on the rest of the way for the 3-2 win.
16′ yellow card NETH Johan Neeskens
18′ GOAL SCAN Gunnar Nordahl
26′ GOAL SCAN Kurt Hamrin
36′ GOAL NETH Ruud Krol
45′ save SCAN GK Peter Schmeichel
45+’ yellow card NETH Jaap Stam
48′ GOAL NETH Ronald Koeman (off direct free kick)
56′ GOAL NETH Johan Neeskens
65′ yellow card NETH Dennis Bergkamp
76′ yellow card SCAN Michael Laudrup
Brazil II 2, Italy II 2 (Brazil advances 4-2 on penalties)
Italy II missed some easy chances, yet rallied to take a second-half lead, then gave up a late equalizer to Brazil II. Like their 1994 World Cup final involving many of these players, this one went to penalties. Italy II got off to a bad start, as Christian Vieri’s attempt was saved by Claudio Taffarel, and Roberto Baggio sent his attempt over the bar (history repeating itself). Brazil made four of its five attempts to win the shootout and advance.
2′ yellow card BRA Ronaldinho
11′ yellow card BRA Rivaldo
36′ yellow card ITA Alessandro Del Piero
41′ GOAL BRA Daniel Alves
56′ GOAL ITA Giuseppe Bergomi
62′ GOAL ITA Roberto Baggio
66′ yellow card BRA Neymar
79′ yellow card ITA Ciro Ferrara
87′ GOAL BRA Falcao
90+’ save BRA GK Claudio Taffarel
ET 92′ yellow card ITA Demetrio Albertini
ET 100′ save BRA GK Claudio Taffarel
PK1 BRA made, ITA saved (1-0)
PK2 BRA missed, ITA missed (1-0)
PK3 BRA made, ITA made (2-1)
PK4 BRA made, ITA made (3-2)
PK5 BRA made (4-2)
British Isles 2, Eastern Europe 0
British Isles continued its surprising run into the semifinals by shutting down the powerful Eastern Europe offense. Eastern Europe averaged nearly three goals per game in their first three contests, but Neville Southall made a couple of big saves and British Isles netted two first-half goals.
5′ GOAL BI Billy McNeill (off header)
8′ yellow card EE Jozsef Bozsik
26′ spectacular save BI GK Neville Southall
38′ GOAL BI John Charles
51′ yellow card EE Anatoly Demyanenko
52′ save BI GK Neville Southall
76′ save EE GK Lev Yashin
82′ spectacular save EE GK Lev Yashin
90+’ yellow card EE Wladislaw Zmuda
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