ARGENTINA are through to the Copa America semi-finals after beating Ecuador 3-0 at the the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico.
Albiceleste captain Lionel Messi led the charge as he created Rodrigo de Paul and Lautaro Martinez’s goals before scoring a screamer of his own.
Lionel Scaloni’s men are not set to face Colombia in the final four next week.
THAT’S ALL FROM GOIANIA!
Lionel Messi led Argentina to the Copa America semi-finals thanks to another masterful performance against Ecuador at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico.
Messi created two goals and scored a stunner at stoppage time to bring the Albiceleste just one step away from the esteemed South American competition’s final.
Lionel Scaloni’s men dominated throughout the encounter, especially in the first half where they created a raft of goalscoring opportunities.
The Argentines came close to opening the scoring on 14 minutes when Lautaro Martinez got the ball inside the box and flicked it over Hernan Galindez before producing a volley that was blocked by Robert Arboleda.
Then Messi picked up a horrendous loose ball by El Tri’s defence and failed to beat Galindez one on one as his effort rattled the left-hand post after 23 minutes.
But Argentina finally got the goal five minutes before half-time when Galindez clashed with Nicolas Gonzalez on the edge of the box and that allowed Messi to set Rodrigo de Paul up in front of open goal.
Gonzalez then failed to beat the Ecuador goalkeeper twice from close range, first with a header and then with a shot that forced a couple of incredible saves, after 45 minutes.
Gustavo Alfaro’s men had a couple of chances to get on the score sheet as well.
First with Enner Valencia and Angel Mena who failed to get a touch in front of open goal following a crisp cross from the left in the 38th minute.
Then Valencia failed to equalise when Mena crossed him the ball from the right flank as his poor header went out for a goal kick.
Argentina sealed qualification in the second half when Piero Hincapie lost the ball at the back before Messi set Martinez up in front of Galindez and the Inter Milan star didn’t miss on 84 minutes.
The Albiceleste thought they would then score from the penalty spot when the referee believed Hincapie brought Angel Di Maria down inside the box.
However, VAR showed that the challenge took place at the edge of the area and thus the defender was sent off before the official awarded Argentina a free-kick.
That is when Messi fired a stunning curling shot and sent the ball to Galindez’s top left corner in the third minute of stoppage time to seal another triumph for Scaloni’s side.
Argentina are now set to face Colombia in the semi-finals next week after Reinaldo Rueda’s men eliminated Uruguay on penalties.
That’s all from us here in Goiania, have a lovely rest of the night!
GETTY IMAGES STATS
Argentina dominated 54 per cent of possession throughout the quarter-final clash.
The Albiceleste recorded a total of 21 shots, eight of which were on target.
Ecuador, on the other hand, registered 10 shots but only two of them were on target.
Both teams showed some impressive passing skills as they notched an accuracy rate of 80 per cent
GETTY IMAGES FT: ARGENTINA 3-0 ECUADOR
Argentina qualified to the Copa America semi-finals after a Lionel Messi masterclass against Ecuador at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico.
Messi created two goals and scored a stunner at stoppage time to bring the Albiceleste just one step away from the esteemed South American competition’s final.
It all started during an eventful first half that included a raft of missed chances.
The Argentines came close to opening the scoring on 14 minutes when Lautaro Martinez got the ball inside the box and flicked it over Hernan Galindez before producing a volley that was blocked by Robert Arboleda.
Then Messi picked up a horrendous loose ball by El Tri’s defence and failed to beat Galindez one on one as his effort hit the left-hand post after 23 minutes.
But Argentina finally got the goal five minutes before half-time when Galindez fouled Nicolas Gonzalez on the edge of the box and that allowed Messi to set Rodrigo de Paul up in front of open goal.
Gonzalez then failed to beat the Ecuador goalkeeper twice from close range, first with a header and then with a shot that forced a couple of incredible saves, after 45 minutes.
Gustavo Alfaro’s men had a couple of chances to get on the score sheet following an impressive display in the first half.
First with Enner Valencia and Angel Mena who failed to get a touch in front of open goal following a crisp cross from the left in the 38th minute.
Then Valencia failed to equalise when Mena crossed him the ball from the right flank as his poor header went out for a goal kick.
Argentina sealed qualification in the second half when Piero Hincapie lost the ball at the back and Messi set Lautaro up in front of Galindez and the Inter Milan star didn’t miss.
The Albiceleste thought they would then score from the penalty spot when the referee claimed Hincapie brought Angle Di Maria inside the box.
However, VAR showed that the challenge took place at the edge of the area and thus the defender was sent off.
That is when Messi fired a stunning free-kick and sent the ball to Galindez’s top left corner in the third minute of stoppage time
GETTY IMAGES
PEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME IN GOIANIA!!!!!!
ARGENTINA 3-0 ECUADOR
90+4 SUBSTITUTION
Argentina manager Scaloni introduces Aguero, who replaces Lautaro
ARGENTINA 3-0 ECUADOR
90+3 So what if Argentina don’t get a penalty? Messi doesn’t need it.
The Barcelona legend fires a free-kick and sends the ball to Galindez’s top left corner.
Incredible finish!
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!
ARGENTINA MAKE IT THREE WITH MESSI!!!!!!!!!!
ARGENTINA 2-0 ECUADOR
90+2 RED CARD
Ecuador ace Hincapie gets sent off as Di Maria was in position to score before being fouled outside the box.
However, the Albiceleste no longer have a penalty
ARGENTINA 2-0 ECUADOR
90 Referee Sampaio is going to check the incident in the VAR monitor.
Hincapie did foul Di Maria but it happened on the edge of the box, not inside
ARGENTINA 2-0 ECUADOR
88 PENALTY FOR ARGENTINA!
Hincapie brings Di Maria down and gets booked with a yellow card.
However, it seems like the foul has been committed outside the box.
ARGENTINA 2-0 ECUADOR
87 Ecuador have been stunned by that late goal by Lautaro.
Argentina are now focused on the clean sheet
ARGENTINA 2-0 ECUADOR
84 Argentina are through to the Copa America semi-finals where they will face Colombia.
It’s safe to say this after Hincapie loses the ball at the back and Messi sets Lautaro up in front of Galindez and the Inter Milan star doesn’t miss
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!
ARGENTINA SEAL QUALIFICATION WITH LAUTARO!!!!!!
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
83 SUBSTITUTION
Ecuador manager Alfaro plays one last card as Campana replaces Preciado
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
83 SUBSTITUTION
Argentina manager Scaloni makes a late change as Tagliafico replaces Gonzalez
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
82 Reminding you all that if Ecuador equalise then the game will go straight to penalties.
There is no extra-time in the Copa America before the final
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
80 CHANCE!
Ecuador star Plata breaks inside the box from the right and tries a shot from a tight angle that Martinez saves
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
79 CHANCE
Gonzalez tries another long-range shot but completely misses the target
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
77 Argentina are quite comfortable on the pitch despite Ecuador’s recent chances.
But Scaloni’s men are still looking for that goal that would seal qualification to the semi-finals
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
74 CHANCE
Argentina star Messi tries a long-range curling shot but doesn’t worry Galindez
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
73 Ecuador have picked up the pace and are quite dangerous with Mena and Valencia.
But El Tri are still missing that clinical edge
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
71 SUBSTITUTION
Argentina manager Scaloni responds with a double change as Di Maria and Rodriguez replace Lo Celso and Paredes respectively
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
71 SUBSTITUTION
Ecuador manager Alfaro shakes things up again as Moises Caicedo replaces Franco
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
70 CHANCE
Ecuador ace Mena delivers a corner-kick from the right side and finds Valencia, whose header misses the target once more
ARGENTINA 1-0 ECUADOR
68 Valencia falls on the pitch inside Argentina’s area.
Not sure what happened there, but it probably isn’t anything serious
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
