Argentina reaches Copa America semifinals, beating Ecuador 4-2 on penalty kicks after 1-1 draw
The reigning champion Argentina reached finals of the Copa America semifinals, beating Ecuador 4-2 with penalties following an 1-1 draw after the hosts conceded a goal to tie during the second-half of the in injury time.
HOUSTON (AP) — Lionel Messi stepped up to take Argentina’s first penalty kick in a Copa America shootout against Ecuador, just like he did in the 2022 World Cup final victory over France .
This is the second time Messi crossed the line and could have a chance of missing the finals.
“I was pretty upset,” he told me, “but at the same time I was secure.”
He had faith in goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez who saved Argentina’s hopes for a third consecutive Copa America title,
Martinez stopped shootouts by Angel Mena and Alan Minda, and Argentina made it towards finals of the Copa America semifinals with a 4-2 win on penalty kicks after an 1-1 draw in the evening of Thursday
“We are aware of the kind of things Dibu can do being able to do, and he truly enjoys these moments. He truly enjoys these moments,” Messi said about Martinez with reference to the name of the goalkeeper.
Argentina lost a goal to Ecuador in the second half of injury time, but recovered and prevailed in the quarterfinals in which Nicolas Otamendi beat Alexander Dominguez with a winning goal.
“I wasn’t ready to go home,” Martinez stated. “This team is deserved to go on. They posed a lot of challenges to us. They had a fantastic match extremely physical. We knew that they were among the top opponents at Copa America.”
In search of its third consecutive major title Argentina reached the semifinals of the fifth time in Copa America and will play Venezuela or Canada on Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina is hoping to capture an unprecedented 16. Copa America championship.
“Our goalkeeper came up clutch,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter.
The Albiceleste were playing in the midst of an Argentina-based pro-Argentinian crowd of 69,456 people at NRG Stadium, Lisandro Martinez provided the Albiceleste an advantage in the 35th minute after Messi’s kick from the corner. Ecuador’s Enner Valencia scored an extra-time penalty kick into an upright in the second minutes following a hand ball from Rodrigo De Paul, but Kevin Rodriguez tied it in the very first minute of the second half stoppage time.
With Argentina being the first to go in the shootout Messi did not succeed on the Panenka attempt.
Martinez Martinez, goalie for The goalkeeper of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final win, ended Mena by leaping to his left and hitting the ball using his trailing hand. He thwarted Minda by soaring to the to the right, and following the save by dancing a quick dance.
Julian Alvarez and Alexis Mac Allister made it happen to make Argentina ahead by 2-0. John Yeboah made Ecuador’s third attempt.
Gonzalo Montiel gave Argentina a 3-1 lead. Jordy Caicedo scored for the goal to keep Ecuador alive. Otamendi won the match by tucking the ball into the post right past the arms of Dominguez’s.
Even with the win Scaloni admitted that the victory was not his favorite “did not enjoy the win.”
“We have reached the semis, and given the great level of performance of every national team, I think it’s a great achievement,” he added.
Lisandro Martinez scored to put Argentina forward in the 37th minute by scoring an effort to head in after Mac Allister headed on Messi’s corner kick. Rodriguez scored when he put his foot into the cross of John Yeboah.
“The quarterfinals had us playing against the most difficult opponent, and I thought we delivered well,” Ecuador coach Felix Sanchez Bas said through an interpreter. “We showed this team can compete against any opponent.”
According to Copa America regulations, the game was played straight from the final regulation phase to a shootout without any extra time.
Messi who suffered the injury on June 25, against Chile was unable to play in Argentina’s group-stage final. The crowd booed him when he stepped onto the field 45 minutes prior to the kickoff.
“I think he finished the match well,” Scaloni stated. “We asked him how he was feeling for the last time four minutes before the end.”
Messi did not score any goals in his the three Copa events this past year however Argentina nevertheless managed to progress.
“I finished well,” the man said. “I didn’t feel any pain.”
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AP Copa America coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/copa-america