Lionel Messi took Argentina first penalty in a Copa America shootout against Ecuador, similar to his role in the 2022 World Cup final win over France. This time, he hit the crossbar, jeopardizing their semifinal hopes. “I was pretty upset,” Messi said, “but at the same time, I was secure.”
He trusted goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who kept Argentina’s hopes for a second straight Copa America title alive. Martínez saved shootout attempts from Ángel Mena and Alan Minda, helping Argentina secure a 4-2 penalty shootout victory following a 1-1 draw on Thursday night.
“We know what Dibu is capable of, that he really thrives on those moments. He really enjoys them,” Messi said, using Martínez’s nickname.
Argentina allowed a tying goal to Ecuador in second-half injury time but rebounded to win the quarterfinal when Nicolás Otamendi scored the winning penalty against Alexander Domínguez.
“I wasn’t ready to go home,” Martínez said. “This team deserved to advance. They gave us a lot of trouble. They played a great match, very physical. We knew they were one of the top rivals in Copa America.”
Seeking their third consecutive major title, Argentina advanced to the semifinals for the fifth straight Copa America and will face either Venezuela or Canada on Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina is aiming for a record 16th Copa America championship.
“Our goalkeeper came through in the clutch,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter.
In front of a pro-Argentinian crowd of 69,456 at NRG Stadium, Lisandro Martínez gave the Albiceleste a 35th-minute lead following Messi’s corner kick. Ecuador’s Enner Valencia missed a penalty kick in the 62nd minute after a handball by Rodrigo De Paul, hitting the post, but Kevin Rodríguez equalized in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
In the shootout, Argentina went first, and Messi’s Panenka attempt missed. Martínez, the goalkeeper from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final win, saved Mena’s shot by diving left and deflecting the ball with his trailing hand. He then saved Minda’s attempt by leaping right and celebrated with a short dance.
Julián Álvarez and Alexis Mac Allister scored to give Argentina a 2-0 lead, while John Yeboah converted Ecuador’s third attempt. Gonzalo Montiel extended Argentina’s lead to 3-1, Jordy Caicedo scored to keep Ecuador in the game, and Otamendi secured the victory by tucking the ball inside the post, just beyond Domínguez’s reach.
Despite the win, Scaloni admitted he “did not enjoy the win.” “We have reached the semis, and given the high level of performance from every national team, I think it’s a great achievement,” he said.
Lisandro Martínez had put Argentina ahead in the 35th minute with a header after Mac Allister redirected Messi’s corner kick. Rodríguez equalized by heading in John Yeboah’s cross.
“The quarterfinals had us playing against the toughest opponent, and I thought we performed well,” Ecuador coach Félix Sánchez Bas said through an interpreter. “We showed this team can compete against anyone.” According to Copa America regulations, the match went straight to a shootout after regulation time, without extra time.
Messi, who sustained an injury on June 25 against Chile, missed Argentina’s group-stage finale but received a loud ovation when he entered the field 45 minutes before kickoff.
“I think he finished the match well,” Scaloni said. “We asked him how he was feeling for the last time four minutes before the end.” Messi, still without a goal in three Copa games this year, helped Argentina advance. “I finished well,” he said. “I didn’t feel any pain.”
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