Lionel Messi was named within the beginning lineup as Argentina gained its Copa América quarterfinal in opposition to Ecuador in a penalty shootout at NRG Stadium in Houston on Thursday.
Lisandro Martinez scored within the first half for Argentina, however Ecuador netted late within the second to ship the sport to a shootout after a 1-1 tie, the place as soon as once more Emiliano Martinez stole the present.
The Aston Villa keeper saved two of Ecuador’s spot kicks after Messi missed the primary for Argentina, however his teammates transformed their subsequent 4 makes an attempt to seal the win and a spot within the Copa semifinals.
Messi, who missed his staff’s third recreation of the group in opposition to Peru, sustained the harm of their Group A win over Chile — Argentina’s second match of the event. His standing was described as “day after day” earlier than returning to coaching earlier this week, with head coach Lionel Scaloni saying on Wednesday that whether or not or not Messi performed relied on how he educated the night time earlier than the match.
“We are going to practice in a pair hours, after which we’ll determine,” Scaloni stated in a information convention earlier than follow. “Another day is at all times higher, yesterday we had good sensations and at this time we’ll determine. Based mostly on at this time’s reply [In training], we’ll determine if Messi performs.”
Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez beforehand performed collectively when the staff confronted Ecuador in a pre-Copa America pleasant on June 9, main the way in which in a 1-0 win as Messi watched from the bench.
Argentina completed prime of Group A, successful all three of their video games with out conceding a objective.
The winner of Thursday’s match will advance to the semifinal at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 9.