Copa America: Argentina’s Lionel Messi walks up to take a penalty (AP)
Argentina pipped Ecuador 4-2 (1-1) on penalties to book their spot in the semi-finals of the Copa America.
Lionel Messi missed his penalty but Argentina defeated Ecuador via penalties in their Copa America quarter-final to book their spot in the last four.
An Enzo Fernandez header had put Argentina 1-0 up just before the break but Kevin Rodriguez headed in a stoppage time leveller for Ecuador.
Messi missed the opening penalty, chipping against the bar, but Argentina recovered to win the shoot-out 4-2 and progress into the semis.
Messi’s ‘panenka’ miss brought back memories of his miss in the shoot-out loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa final but luckily for him goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was in the mood to repeat his own past.
He pulled off superb diving saves to deny Angel Mena and Alan Minda and get his team in front before Nicolas Otamendi slotted home the decisive fourth kick.
Martinez had saved three spot-kicks in a 3–2 penalty shootout victory for Argentina over Colombia in the semi-final of the 2021 Copa America and famously saved two in the World Cup final win against France in Qatar.
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Ecuador were left crestfallen after a match in which they had created enough opportunities to have won the game.
Felix Sanchez’s team made a bright start, dominating the ball in midfield and stretching the Argentine defence at times.
Moises Caicedo had an early opportunity, latching on to a header from Enner Valencia, but his shot was tame and easily dealt with by Argentine keeper Martinez.
Then Moises Caicedo threaded a clever pass through to the impressive Jeremy Sarmiento but Martinez was out quick to save with an outstretched foot and Kendry Paez blasted the loose ball over the bar.
Argentina gradually got a foothold in the game but it was not until the 28th minute that they had their first opening when Enzo Fernandez headed wide a Nahuel Molina cross from the right.
Seven minutes later, they had the lead however, Messi driving in a corner which Alexis Mac Allister met at the near post with a flick-on and Lisandro Martinez arrived with a powerful header that Ecuador keeper Alexander Dominguez was unable to keep out.
Fernandez soon had a chance to double the lead but fired a left-foot shot wide at the back post and Argentina went in at the break with a single goal lead.
Ecuador were given a lifeline in the 62nd minute when Rodrigo De Paul was ruled to have handled inside the box but Valencia’s penalty struck the outside of the post.
But in stoppage time, Ecuador stunned the 15-times Copa champions when Kevin Rodriguez glanced in a header from a John Yeboah cross.
There was a VAR review, looking at whether Jordy Caicedo had interfered in an offside position at the back post but the goal stood.
Moments later Jordy Caicedo had a great chance to win the game but he glanced a left-wing cross wide from a great, central position.
That meant the drama of a penalty shoot-out and the chance to upset the defending champions slipt away.
Seeking its third straight major title, Argentina advanced to the semifinals for the fifth straight Copa America and will play Venezuela or Canada on Tuesday at East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Messi was rested for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Peru in Miami, as part of nine changes made by coach Lionel Scaloni but returns to the starting line-up for the last-eight clash at NRG Stadium.
Lautaro Martinez, the top scorer in the tournament so far with four goals from three games, retains his place in attack at the expense of Julian Alvarez. Scaloni reverted to the midfield and defence he used in the line-up against Chile in the penultimate group stage game which the world champions won 1-0.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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