Netherlands win on penalties

Costa Rica seemed determined to add the Netherlands to their upset list at the 2014 World Cup, and right from the start the disciplined "Ticos" made it difficult for the Dutch to find a way through, showing once again the tactical discipline that they have grown famous for.

Twenty minutes in, a fluid passing move from the Dutch eventually fell to captain Robin van Persie. His low shot was well struck but Costa Rica's in-form goalkeeper Keylor Navas saved smartly. The keeper was called into action again shortly before the half-hour mark - Memphis Depay's shot from the angle forced another good save out of Navas.

As the first half wore on, the Dutch grew into the game and Costa Rica found themselves under more pressure. They resisted though, and even caused some trouble with a well-placed free kick, but nothing came and the Dutch were soon back on the front foot. Navas made the most impressive save of the first half, palming away Sneijder's curling free kick to keep the scores level.

With no goals at the break, Costa Rica were the happier of the two. For the first fifteen minutes of the second half, more of the same unfolded. The Dutch struggled to find a way through a resilient Costa Rican side, who seemed to be biding their time, waiting for their chance.

In the latter stages, Wesley Sneijder hammered a free kick onto the post, and life returned to the encounter. Arjen Robben's free kick posed questions of Costa Rica's defense less than a minute later, but once again Navas saved to keep out van Persie. The Manchester United striker then failed to connect with Sneijder's cross despite the goal beckoning.

With extra time in sight, Costa Rica survived a miraculous goalmouth scramble with Yeltsin Tejeda deflecting van Persie's goalbound effort onto the bar.

Extra time came and Ron Vlaar became the latest name to be denied by Navas, the goalkeeper sprawling to keep out the defender's header. Penalties were looming as substitute striker Marcos Urena had a chance to win it, but neither he nor Sneijder, who rattled another effort onto the bar, could find the back of the net.

In the end, there was no way past Costa Rica or their goalkeeper and so it came to penalties. Louis van Gaal, ever the tactician, threw one last roll of the dice and brought on penalty specialist Tim Krul for first-choice goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.

And what a decision it proved. Krul twice saved low to his left-hand side to deny captain Ruiz and Michael Umana, sending the Dutch through 4-3 on penalties.

It was a heart-breaking end to Costa Rica's World Cup, but the semifinals for the 2014 World Cup are now in stone: Germany will play hosts Brazil, and the Netherlands have earned the right to play Argentina.