BRASÍLIA - Argentina muscled its way into the semifinals of the World Cup with a 1-0 victory Saturday over Belgium, continuing its quest to win a title on the home soil of Brazil, its most bitter rival.
Gonzalo Higuaín silenced his critics with a decisive strike in the eighth minute, and Argentina held on against a Belgian team that had difficulty creating chances against a stout defense.
With thousands of fans singing and chanting for Argentina, the team rode the wave of support in what felt like a home game.
The Belgians, who required extra time to beat the United States in the previous round, had a flurry of attempts on goal in the closing minutes but were unable to convert.
Argentina will play the winner of the game between the Netherlands and Costa Rica played later Saturday. A Dutch win would set up a final four of international soccer powerhouses, with Brazil playing Germany, and would present two classic confrontations, each featuring one of South America's best against a classic European team, with 10 World Cup championships among them. Of the four, only the Netherlands has failed to win a title, although it has played in three finals.
Regardless of the matchups, this is the first time Brazil and Argentina have been in the semifinals in the same World Cup.
The only concern for Argentina is the status of Ángel di María, who left the game midway through the first half with a leg injury. Argentina, already dependent on Lionel Messi, might have to rely on him even more if di María is out.
Belgium got little production from its star Eden Hazard, who was taken off in the second half.
Higuaín scored the game's lone goal by driving in a perfect one-time strike from 17 yards out. The play started with Vincent Kompany, Belgium's normally reliable central defender, losing the ball in his own half.
Messi made a few slick moves, spinning free from three defenders in the middle of the field, before sending the ball wide to di María. Di María's pass into the box was deflected by Jan Vertonghen and went straight to Higuaín, as if on a tee. He made no mistake with it, striking the ball perfectly with the laces of his cleat, a clean power shot into the far corner that gave Belgium's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, no chance.
Argentina secured the slim lead by playing behind the ball and closing down any chances. Even after Belgium brought on Romelu Lukaku, who proved so effective against the United States, it could not find a way to tie the score.
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