Netherlands beats Costa Rica on penalties

Netherlands’ players celebrate after winning on penalty kicks the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between the Netherlands and Costa Rica at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Saturday, July 5, 2014. The Netherlands won 4-3. Late substitute Tim Krul, center right, made two saves in a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica on Saturday to give the Netherlands a spot in the World Cup semifinals following a 0-0 draw. AP

BRASÍLIA – Super-sub goalkeeper Tim Krul was the hero as the Netherlands ended their penalty shoot-out jinx to beat Costa Rica and set up a World Cup semi-final showdown with Argentina on Saturday.

Dutch coach Louis van Gaal stunned onlookers at Salvador’s Fonte Nova Arena by bringing on Krul to replace Jasper Cillessen in the final seconds of extra-time after 120 minutes had finished deadlocked at 0-0.

But van Gaal’s audacious move to introduce Krul paid dividends as the Newcastle keeper saved Costa Rican penalties from Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana to send the Dutch through into a last four meeting with Argentina in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.

Holland had won only one penalty shoot-out in five previous attempts at major championships.

But penalty takers Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt all made no mistake from the spot to beat Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

The unforgettable shoot-out drama came after a gritty duel which saw the Netherlands dominate for long periods without being able to score.

Sneijder came closest, twice hitting the woodwork in normal and extra-time.

The win means the Netherlands are set for another chapter of their World Cup rivalry with Argentina, which includes the 1978 final won by the South Americans.

Argentina advanced to the semi-final for the first time in 24 years on Saturday after a Gonzalo Higuain strike secured a 1-0 win over Belgium.

Napoli striker Higuain lashed in an instinctive first time shot after eight minutes as Belgium’s hopes of qualifying for the last four wilted in Brasilia.

Argentina’s win snapped a run of two successive World Cup quarter-final exits following failures against Germany in 2006 and 2010.

It is the first time the South Americans have qualified for the last four since the 1990 finals in Italy.