Lionel Messi shines and leads Argentina to Copa América semifinals

Sunday, July 4, 2021 at 06:38• Daniel Cabot Kerkdijk • Last update: 06:58

Argentina has qualified for the semifinals of the Copa América on Saturday evening local time. The team of national coach Lionel Scolari was 3-0 too strong for Ecuador, which did not win one of the four group matches and stranded in Brasilia on Saturday. Lionel Messi shone with two assists and the final goal. Argentina now has to deal with Colombia, which eliminated Uruguay on penalties. A dream final Brazil – Argentina beckons more than ever.

Argentina, which has been waiting for 28 years to win the Copa América, started strong in the Estádio Nacional de Brasília: goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez saved a shot from Lisandro Martínez and a shot from Germán Pezzella after a corner from Messi ended in the side net. After just over twenty minutes, a mistake by Carlos Gruezo opened up a big opportunity for Argentina: face to face with Galíndez, Messi struck the aluminum.

Ecuador then bit off more in the open first half. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was tested after a volley from Jhegson Méndez and a header from Enner Valencia missed the right direction. Five minutes before the break, Argentina scored 1-0: after a pass from Messi, Rodrigo De Paul scored his first international goal. Ecuador had twice the prospect of an equalizer via Valencia: on the stroke of half-time he again gave the ball insufficient direction and he hit the post early in the second half.

Argentina leaned on the minimal lead in the second half and looked dangerous as soon as Messi got involved. A mistake by Piero Hincapié was the basis of the 2-0 seven minutes before the end: after a pass from Messi, Martínez drove the ball in hard. Messi made it 3-0 in extra time. Hincapié was shown a red card for a foul as the last man after VAR interference and Messi shot the leather from a free kick behind Galíndez. Nicolás Tagliafico came in for Nicolás González seven minutes before the end; Lisandro Martínez stayed on the bench for 90 minutes.

Argentina, which has already been unbeaten for eighteen times in a row, now plays in the semifinals against Colombia, which eliminated Uruguay on penalties (2-4). No goal was scored in regulation time. Previously, host country Brazil and Peru already qualified for the semi-finals.


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