Lionel Messi [Images] 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 [Images] in the semi-final in Beijing [Images] on Aug. 19. Nigeria will face Belgium in Shanghai in the other semi-final.

Belgium stun Italy [Images]

Despite losing a man early, Belgium came back from behind to defeat Italy 3-2 and advance to the semifinals.

In another quarterfinal, Brazil's extra-time goals helped it defeat Cameroon and secure another semifinal place.

Belgium was not considered a strong medal contender before the match. Beijing 2008 is the first time that the team has qualified for the Olympics [Images] in 80 years. However, Belgium's three goals tonight show why it needs to be taken seriously.

It was Italy who emerged more dangerous in the opening minutes. In the sixth minute, Giuseppe Rossi failed to turn in a pinpoint cross from Riccardo Montolivo.

Belgium's Thomas Vermaelen received a red card for holding Italy's Robert Acquafresca in the 18th minute. Rossi took the resulting penalty kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way before calmly scoring a goal.

With an extra man, Italy seemed to be in a strong position to win but Belgium played like it had its full complement. Belgium grabbed an equalizer only six minutes after Italy's first goal. Though it looked like Moussa Dembele's header was cleared out by the Italian defense, slow-motion replays show that the ball had already passed the goal line.

As the clocked ticked into injury time, Belgium scored again to double the lead. Kevin Mirallas latched onto a cross, controlled the ball with one touch, and drove in a turnaround kick. Belgium took a 2-1 lead into the first half.

Italy launched a sweeping attack in the second half and had a chance to equalize the score. In the 57th minute, Italian forward Giuseppe Rossi fell down after an altercation with the Belgian goalkeeper Logan Bailly, but received a yellow card for diving. However, slow-motion replays indicated that Bailly grabbed hold of Rossi's leg.

Italy finally received its second penalty kick 28 minutes into the second half after Paolo De Ceglie was pulled down at the edge of the penalty box. Rossi converted the goal to tie the score at 2-2.

Belgium broke the tie only five minutes later. Dembele streaked down the midfield, shrugged off the Italian defenders and smashed a long-range shot into the net.

In the quarterfinal match between Brazil and Cameroon, regular time finished with the two teams playing out a goalless draw. Goals by Rafael Sobis and Marcelo in the first half of extra time gave Brazil a berth in the semi-finals.