Hopeless Messi panenka not fatal to Argentina thanks to new heroic role of Emiliano Martínez

Argentina qualified for the semi-finals of the Copa América after a real thriller against Ecuador. Lisandro Martínez headed Argentina into the lead before half-time, but the excellent Ecuador never gave up and leveled deep into injury time thanks to Kevin Rodríguez: 1-1. In the subsequent penalty shootout, things seemed to go wrong for Argentina when Lionel Messi saw his panenka hit the crossbar, but not for the first time, Emiliano Martínez was the hero for Argentina in the shootout.

Emi Martínez was in goal for Argentina, who played with four defenders: Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez and Nicolás Tagliafico. Nicolás González, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister formed the midfield behind attackers Lautaro Martínez and Messi. Messi's name was questionable due to a thigh injury, but he was fit enough to start.

Ecuador coach Félix Sánchez opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation with Alexander Domínguez in goal. The defence consisted of Ángelo Preciado, Félix Torres, Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapié. Carlos Gruezo was the controlling man in midfield behind Jeremy Sarmiento, Moisés Caicedo, Alan Franco and Kendry Páez. Valencia was up front.

Argentina were not themselves in the first fifteen minutes of the match. Ecuador were more than once dangerous in front of the goal of Emi Martínez, who made a crucial save after fifteen minutes on a shot from close range by Sarmiento. The rebound fell at the feet of Páez, who received the ball for his good left, but shot over.

Ecuador kept pushing. A deep ball was appreciated by Valencia, who turned and crossed. The ball ended up just behind Preciado, who could not finish properly and saw the chance go to waste. Halfway through the first half, nothing had changed. Ecuador dominated the game, Argentina mainly watched. It led to whistle concerts in the stands in Houston.

Good persistence from Mac Allister finally led to the first chance for Argentina. Molina had time and space on the right to cross and served Fernández, who saw his header go a meter wide. Argentina fought their way back into the duel and it was again Fernández who could have opened the scoring.

After the Chelsea midfielder shook off Preciado, he could have chosen a teammate. However, he shot against the last remaining defender: Pacho. From the corner that followed, it was still a goal. Messi painted the ball onto the head of Mac Allister, who headed it to the far post and saw Lisandro Martinez head it in: 1-0. It could have been 2-0 before half-time, if Fernández had not been able to take advantage of dramatic clearing by Pacho by shooting well wide.

Not much happened at first after the start of the second half. The most dangerous moment came from Lautaro, who shot wide from a turn. Out of nowhere, Ecuador got the golden opportunity to equalize. De Paul made an unfortunate handball in the Argentinian sixteen and had to pay for it with a penalty. Valencia sent Emi Martínez into the wrong corner, but hit the post. Sarmiento then shot wide from the rebound.

After the break, chances remained very few. Argentina held on to their lead and made little attempt to go all out for the decisive 2-0. At the same time, Ecuador was less dominant than before the break. Sánchez decided to bring in fresh blood by bringing on John Yeboah, Ángel Mena and Jordy Caicedo.

Yeboah distinguished himself with a beautiful dribble and it cost Tagliafico a yellow card to stop him. The subsequent free kick was fired into the wall. Just before time Caicedo had a huge chance, but the former CSKA Sofia attacking leader shot wildly into the side netting, when he should have chosen a teammate.

Just before the end, Ecuador finally scored. Yeboah gave a sharp cross to Kevin Rodríguez, who headed into the far corner. Referee Andrés Cabrera kept both teams in suspense, because the VAR checked whether Caicedo was in an obstructive offside position or not. According to the referee, this was not the case: 1-1.

Caicedo should have headed Ecuador into the semi-finals in the 97th minute. In an unmarked position right in front of Emi Martinez, he headed wide. Since there will be no extra time until the final, penalties were taken immediately. In the series, Messi failed by placing a panenka on the crossbar, but Emi Martínez, like several times at the 2022 World Cup, became the hero of Argentina in a penalty shootout. The Aston Villa goalie stopped the efforts of Mena and Minda and thus secured Argentina a place in the semi-finals, in which Venezuela or Canada will be the opponent.

Penalty shootout
Messi: miss (0-0)
Mena: miss (0-0)
J. Álvarez: goal (1-0)
Minda: miss (1-0)
Mac Allister: goal (2-0)
Yeboah: hit (2-1)
Montiel: hit (3-1)
Caicedo: goal (3-2)
Otamendi: goal (4-2)

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