*Holland are through to the World Cup semi-finals after a penalty shootout victory against Costa Rica.
- *Tim Krul was brought on in the last minute of extra-time JUST for the penalty shootout
- *Newcastle goalkeeper saves two of five spot-kicks to send Holland through
By IAN LADYMAN
- Maybe Louis van Gaal is the genius he often purports himself to be after all.
Here at a rapturous Arena Fonte Nova, Van Gaal made one of the biggest calls of this World Cup and saw it take his team in to a semi-final with Argentina on Wednesday.
Having seen his team pour all over Costa Rica for 120 minutes but fail to score, Van Gaal sent on Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul to face the penalties.
Krul had barely had time warm up and the man he replaced, Jasper Cillessen, had made a save in the 118th minute to keep his country in the competition.
But Van Gaal is a coach who always seems to know what he is doing and Krul saved the second Costa Rica penalty from Fulham’s Bryan Ruiz, and then the fourth from Michael Umana, to take Holland through.
It was all that the Dutch deserved, too. Not only did they produce a nerveless shootout performance to score through Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt, they were relentless all night in the face of some remarkable misfortune.
Super sub: Holland's Tim Krul makes the decisive save to deny Costa Rica's Michael Umana in the shoot-out
Ecstatic: Holland's players celebrate after Krul's heroics sent Louis van Gaal's side through to the semi-finals
Jumping for joy: Holland's Dirk Kuyt was the first Dutch player to congratulate goalkeeper Krul
Delight and despair: Goalkeeper Tim Krul celebrates after saving a penalty from Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz (left)
Talking tactics: Holland boss Louis van Gaal and assisstant Patrick Kluivert speak with Krul on the touchline
So close: Robin van Persie saw his late shot strike the bar after deflecting off Yeltsin Tejeda on the line
Flying Dutchman: Arjen Robben theatrically goes to ground following a challenge from Cristian Gamboa
Grounded: Robben falls to the floor as Junior Diaz and Michael Umana stop the Dutchman in his tracks
Referee! Robben appeals for a free-kick during the first half of Holland's match with Costa Rica
Come on, ref: Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan shares a laugh with Robben after the half-time whistle
Flying high: Robin van Persie is forced to jump over Keylor Navas as the goalkeeper claims the ball
Aerial duel: Holland defender Stefan de Vrij feels the full force of the ball as he beats Christian Bolanos in the air
Fall to the floor: Bryan Ruiz takes a tumble under Memphis Depay as Bruno Martins Indi watches on
Bend it like Sneijder: The Holland frontman unleashes a curling effort at goal which evades Yeltsin Tejeda
Eyes on the prize: Bryan Ruiz brings the ball down on his chest under the challenge of Daley Blind
Under pressure: Marco Urena makes a pass as Holland frontman Wesley Sneijder chases the ball down
One for the cameras: Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas stretches through the air to make a save
Costa Rican confidence was growing and who could blame them? Since the interval, Holland had threatened only sporadically.
Van Persie and Robben combined midway through the half but the centre-forward’s return into Robben’s path was underhit and Costa Rica cleared.
Van Persie was having a poor night. Van Gaal then brought on Jeremain Lens. He was offside when bringing a save from Navas before Sneijder smacked a post with a free-kick.
Van Persie then brought a low save from Navas. On both occasions, Costa Rica were fortunate to see the ball rebound to safety.
Even Van Persie could not be blamed deep in added time, when his far-post shot from a Daley Blind cross rolled up Yeltsin Tejeda’s shin and on to the bar.
It was an astonishing end to a 90-minute period that belonged to the Dutch. Into extra time and Ron Vlaar saw a header saved then Acosta had to hack clear from his own line.
Nothing they could do, it seemed, could save them from the ordeal of a penalty shootout. And even then Costa Rica almost won it at the death, Marcos Urena weaving through to shoot against Cillessen, before Sneijder struck the bar with two minutes left.
Stretching: Costa Rica's Junior Diaz does his best to rob the ball from Robin van Persie
Hot pursuit: Dirk Kuyt turns with the ball in an attempt to avoid Christian Bolanos' challenge
In control: Joel Campbell takes the ball in the air as Holland's Aston Villa centre back Ron Vlaar watches on
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