HOUSTON (AP) — Lionel Messi stepped as much as take Argentina’s first penalty kick in a Copa America shootout towards Ecuador, similar to he did in the 2022 World Cup closing victory over France.
Solely this time, Messi hit the crossbar, jeopardizing a visit to the semifinals.
“I used to be fairly upset,” he stated, “however on the similar time I used to be safe.”
He had confidence in goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who saved Argentina’s bid for a second straight Copa America title,
Martínez stopped shootout makes an attempt by Ángel Mena and Alan Minda, and Argentina superior to the Copa America semifinals with a 4-2 victory on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw Thursday evening
“We all know what Dibu is able to, that he actually thrives on these moments. He actually enjoys them,” Messi stated about Martínez, utilizing the goalkeeper’s nickname.
Argentina conceded a tying objective to Ecuador in second-half harm time however rebound and gained the quarterfinal when Nicolás Otamendi beat Alexander Domínguez with the profitable kick.
“I wasn’t able to go residence,” Martínez stated. “This workforce deserved to advance. They difficult us lots. They performed a terrific match, very bodily. We knew they have been one of many prime rivals in Copa America.”
Searching for its third straight main title, Argentina superior to the semifinals for the fifth straight Copa America and can play Venezuela or Canada on Tuesday at East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina is seeking to win a file sixteenth Copa America championship.
“Our goalkeeper got here up clutch,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stated by means of an interpreter.
Enjoying in entrance of a pro-Argentinian crowd of 69,456 at NRG Stadium, Lisandro Martínez gave the Albiceleste a Thirty fifth-minute lead following Messi’s nook kick. Ecuador’s Enner Valencia put a penalty kick off a submit within the 62nd minute after a hand ball by Rodrigo De Paul, however Kevin Rodríguez tied it within the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
With Argentina going first within the shootout, Messi failed on his Panenka try.
Martínez, the goalkeeper in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup closing win, stopped Mena by diving to his left and batting the ball along with his trailing hand. He denied Minda by leaping proper, then adopted the save with a brief dance.
Julián Álvarez and Alexis Mac Allister transformed to place Argentina forward 2-0, and John Yeboah made Ecuador’s third try.
Gonzalo Montiel gave Argentina a 3-1 lead, Jordy Caicedo transformed to maintain Ecuador alive and Otamendi acquired the winner, tucking the ball contained in the submit simply previous the outstretched arm of Domínguez.
Regardless of the victory, Scaloni stated he “didn’t benefit from the win.”
“We’ve reached the semis, and given the good degree of efficiency of each nationwide workforce, I feel it’s a terrific achievement,” he stated.
Lisandro Martínez had put Argentina forward within the Thirty fifth minute with a header after Mac Allister headed on Messi’s nook kick. Rodríguez scored when he headed in John Yeboah’s cross.
“The quarterfinals had us enjoying towards essentially the most troublesome opponent, and I assumed we delivered properly,” Ecuador coach Félix Sánchez Bas stated by means of an interpreter. “We confirmed this workforce can compete towards any opponent.”
Below Copa America laws, the match went straight from the tip of regulation to a shootout, with out additional time.
Messi, who sustained the harm on June 25 towards Chile, missed Argentina’s group-stage finale. He acquired a loud ovation when he entered the sphere 45 minutes earlier than kickoff.
“I feel he completed the match properly,” Scaloni stated. “We requested him how he was feeling for the final time 4 minutes earlier than the tip.”
Messi remained and not using a objective in three Copa video games this yr, however Argentina nonetheless managed to advance.
“I completed properly,” he stated. “I didn’t really feel any ache.”
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AP Copa America protection: https://apnews.com/hub/copa-america