For many of 90 minutes Thursday night time, Argentina was comfy. For 360-plus minutes at this 2024 Copa América, the reigning champions of every little thing had not conceded a aim.
Just a little after 10 p.m. in Houston, although, they have been on the point of elimination, shocked by Ecuador and down in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi missed — till goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez saved the day.
Argentina was forward 1-0 for many of a tense match, however by no means dominant. And in second-half stoppage time, Ecuador equalized — sending 70,000 followers at NRG Stadium right into a state of shock, and sending the sport straight to penalties.
Within the shootout, Messi, after an extended, lonely stroll from midfield to the spot, chipped his penalty straight down the center of the aim, off the crossbar, and onto the roof of the online.
However Martínez, the hero of the 2022 World Cup remaining and maybe one of the best penalty stopper on the earth, responded with an emphatic save on Ecuador’s first try.
Messi, arm in arm with teammate Cristian Romero, pumped his first towards Martínez, as if to say a relieved “thanks.”
After Julián Álvarez scored to get Argentina off the mark within the shootout, Martínez produced one other exceptional save, diving to his proper, and parrying the ball with an enormous left hand.
Martínez, who’s each beloved and despised for his showmanship, gamesmanship and antics, leapt up off the grass, turned to followers behind the aim, and danced.
In that second, it was as if Ecuador not stood an opportunity. La Albiceleste’s mojo had all of the sudden returned. Alexis Mac Allister put them forward 2-0.
Ecuador would convert its subsequent two penalties, however Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the clincher in Qatar 19 months in the past, stayed calm to provide Argentina a commanding 3-1 lead. And Nicolás Otamendi buried his penalty to ebook Argentina’s place within the semifinals, the place they will face the winner of Friday’s Canada-Venezuela match.
For all however a couple of minutes Thursday night time, they appeared destined for that semifinal. However they by no means appeared particularly good. Martínez stored their multi-game scoreless streak intact early within the first half with a sprawling save.
Argentina finally scored with its very first shot on track. Mac Allister met a Messi nook on the close to put up, and flicked it towards the far put up, the place Lisandro Martínez was cleverly ready to nod it residence.
The Argentine assault, although, was atypically quiet for many of the night time. Messi, having overcome an harm suffered 9 days earlier in opposition to Chile, wasn’t his normal self.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Ecuador earned a penalty — however Enner Valencia rolled it off the put up after sending Emi Martínez the unsuitable means.
The underdogs, although, bellied as much as the defending champs, and eventually obtained their deserved equalizer in stoppage time.
A pair minutes later, they nearly floored Argentina with a second aim. Jordy Caicedo’s free-but-miscued header flashed broad.
So the quarterfinal skipped additional time and went to penalties — as do all Copa América knockout-round video games previous to the ultimate if tied.
However within the shootout, Argentina had one gargantuan, unflinching, 6-foot-5 benefit: the person they name “Dibu,” the late-blooming goalkeeper who allowed Messi to overcome the world on Dec. 18, 2022, and who reproduced related heroics Thursday night time.
His gamesmanship won’t have labored, however his dimension and instincts devastated Ecuador, and rescued Argentina from the brink.
After Otamendi sealed the victory, Messi pumped his proper fist as soon as extra. And earlier than lengthy, the Argentines have been singing and dancing once more.