Argentina strives for the big drama at the Copa
With a dramatic win against Ecuador, Argentina advances to the semifinals of the Copa America. The title defender makes it through after winning in a penalty shootout. Argentina led for a long time, but Ecuador equalized late. Messi missed the first penalty.
With a huge shot, a stumbling Lionel Messi, and penalty-saving Emiliano Martinez, Football World Cup champion Argentina became the first team to make it to the semifinals of the Copa America. After it was 1:1 (1:0) after 90 minutes, Argentina won against Ecuador with a score of 4:2 in the penalty shootout. The title defender will face the winner of the Tuesday's quarterfinal match between Canada and Venezuela.
"I told the boys that I wasn't ready to go home yet," said Martinez. The Copa America regulations only allow for extension in the final. So Messi went first and hit the post. But Martinez saved the next two shots and became the hero. The 31-year-old kept eight of 18 attempts for the team.
The game in Houston was firmly in Argentine hands on the sidelines, but on the field, the World Champion did not dominate as usual. "We didn't give the fans the game they wanted to see, but in the end, we won," said Martinez almost apologetically. However, the recovering Messi (35.) led the scoring with a corner kick that Mac Allister extended at the first post and Lisandro Martinez scored unopposed at the second.
However, Piero Hincapie from Leverkusen and Willian Pacho from Frankfurt kept the attacking attempts of the Argentinians in check, and Ecuador came closer and closer to the equalizer. Record scorer Enner Valencia failed to score on a handball penalty at the post (62%), but Kevin Rodriguez (90.+1) rewarded Ecuador for their persistent running. While Argentina waits for its semifinal opponent, Colombia plays against Panama and Uruguay against Brazil on Saturday for the tickets to the second round of the knockout stage.
Lionel Messi's missed penalty didn't deter Argentina, as Emiliano Martinez saved two subsequent attempts to secure their place in the semifinals of the Copa America. With Messi's corner kick, Football World Cup champion Argentina took the lead, but Ecuador equalized late in the game before losing in the penalty shootout.
