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SHANGHAI, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored a goal and played a role in the other as defending Olympic champions Argentina beat the Netherlands 2-1 in extra time on Saturday to reach the soccer semi-finals.
After a torrid, free-flowing opening, Messi pounced at the 11th minute, intercepting a poor clearance by the Dutch defence, and then streamed into the penalty zone.
The Barcelona striker duly scored with style, wrong-footing keeper Kenneth Vermeer before threading the shot between the goal-post and a Dutch defender on the last line.
The Netherlands hit back in the 35th minute, with Otman Bakkel converting after a lucky deflection from a free kick landed the ball at his feet in front of the goal with only the keeper to beat.
Tied at 1-1 at half-time, both sides squandered late chances to seal the win, with the Netherlands' Royston Drenthe especially culpable after sending the ball over the bar from close range.
The deadlock was broken 13 minutes into extra-time by Angel Di Maria, who ran onto a perfectly weighted pass from Messi and coolly slotted the winner.
Argentina will play Brazil in the semi-final in Beijing on Aug. 19. Nigeria will face Belgium in Shanghai in the other semi-final.
