ARGENTINA have made it to the Copa America Final where they will face Brazil.
The Albiceleste drew with Colombia during normal time following Lautaro Martinez’s opener and Luis Diaz’s equaliser.
The semi-final went on penalties where Emiliano Martinez denied Davinson Sanchez, Yerry Mina and Edwin Cardona to send his country through to the final.
Relive all the Copa America action below:
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED
THAT’S ALL FROM BRASILIA!
Argentina made it to the Copa America Final thanks to Emiliano Martinez’s heroics in an intense semi-final clash that ended with a penalty shoot-out.
The two teams drew 1-1 during normal period at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s opener for the Albiceleste and Luis Diaz’s equaliser.
Lionel Scaloni’s men opened the scoring after just seven minutes when Giovani Lo Celso’s wonderful through ball found Lionel Messi in the area and the captain passed back to Lautaro who beat David Ospina with a fine finish.
Colombia then missed three major chances to equalise, first with Juan Cuadrado who was played in the area thanks to Diaz and was denied by Martinez from close distance just a minute after the Argentines’ opener.
Then Wilmar Barrios fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box that caught a deflection off Lo Celso before hitting the left-hand post.
A minute later Yerry Mina got a header from a corner-kick and forced a spectacular save from the Aston Villa goalkeeper, who lunged towards his top left corner.
Argentina then came close to doubling their lead when Nicolas Gonzalez picked up a header from Messi’s corner-kick but was denied by Ospina from close range.
Colombia finally got their equaliser on 61 minutes when Edwin Cardona played Diaz down the left flank and the Porto star completely outran Gonzalo Montiel to beat Martinez from a tight angle.
Argentina then missed an incredible opportunity to regain the lead when Daniel Munoz lost the ball in midfield and Ospina foolishly came off his area after 74 minutes.
Angel Di Maria dribbled past the Colombia goalkeeper and passed to Lautaro whose shot was blocked on the goal line by Barrios.
Then Messi hit Ospina’s right-hand post after a beautiful through ball by Di Maria in the 80th minute.
The penalty shoot-out was as dramatic as the rest of the match with Rodrigo De Paul missing for Argentina following a dreadful shot that went over the crossbar.
But Albiceleste goalkeeper Martinez ended up being the hero as he denied Davinson Sanchez and Mina as well as Cardona’s critical spot kick.
Messi, Leandro Paredes and Lautaro were all on target whereas Cuadrado and Miguel Borja were the only ones who scored for Colombia.
That led to a 3-2 win for Argentina on penalties and now Scaloni’s men are set to face bitter rivals Brazil on Saturday at the Maracana Stadium.
Colombia, on the other hand, will take on Peru in the third-place play-off the night before.
Thank you for following the action with us, have a lovely night!
GETTY IMAGES STATS
Colombia dominated 51 per cent of possession in the exciting Copa America semi-final against Argentina.
The Tricolor registered a total of 14 shots, but only four of them were on target.
The Albiceleste, on the other hand, produced 13 shots, four of which were on target.
This was a very intense match that saw Argentina committing 20 fouls and Colombia counting another 27.
The referee showed a total of 10 yellow cards, six of which went to Reinaldo Rueda’s men
GETTY IMAGES FT: ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA (3-2 ON PENALTIES)
Argentina made it to the Copa America Final after beating Colombia on penalties at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia.
The Albiceleste opened the scoring after just seven minutes when Giovani Lo Celso’s wonderful through ball found Messi in the area and the captain passed back to Lautaro Martinez who beat David Ospina with a fine finish.
Colombia then missed three major chances to equalise, first with Juan Cuadrado who was played in the area thanks to Luis Diaz and was denied by Emiliano Martinez from close distance just a minute after Lautaro’s opener.
Then Wilmar Barrios fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box that caught a deflection off Lo Celso before hitting Martinez’s left-hand post.
A minute later Yerry Mina got a header from a corner-kick and forced a spectacular save from the Argentina goalkeeper, who lunged towards his top left corner.
Argentina then came close to doubling their lead when Nicolas Gonzalez picked up a header from Lionel Messi’s corner-kick but was denied by Ospina from close range.
Colombia finally got their equaliser on 61 minutes when Edwin Cardona played Diaz down the left flank and the Porto star completely outran Gonzalo Montiel to beat Martinez from a tight angle.
Argentina then missed an incredible opportunity to regain the lead when Daniel Munoz lost the ball in midfield and Ospina came off his area after 74 minutes.
Angel Di Maria dribbled past the Colombia goalkeeper and passed to Lautaro whose shot was blocked on the goal line by Barrios.
The Messi hit Ospina’s right-hand post after a beautiful through ball by Di Maria in the 80th minute.
The penalty shoot-out was as dramatic with Rodrigo De Paul missing for Argentina.
But Albiceleste goalkeeper Martinez ended up being the hero as he denied Davinson Sanchez and Yerry Mina as well as Cardona’s critical spot kick
GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
MARTINEZ SAVES CARDONA’S PENALTY!
ARGENTINA HAVE MADE IT TO THE COPA AMERICA FINAL!
ARGENTINA 2-3 COLOMBIA
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
Lautaro scores a brilliant penalty kick to give Argentina the lead again!
Colombia NEED to score this!
ARGENTINA 2-3 COLOMBIA
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
Borja scores from the spot, this time Martinez’s mind games don’t work
ARGENTINA 2-2 COLOMBIA
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
Paredes scores for Argentina with a fine take that sends Ospina on the opposite corner!
ARGENTINA 2-1 COLOMBIA
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
Martinez SAVES Mina’s penalty after some mind games that have paid off!
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
De Paul MISSES! Sends the ball over the crossbar with a horrible shot!
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
Martinez SAVES Sanchez’s shot!
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
And it’s good by Messi! Sends the ball to Ospina’s top left corner!
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
It is now time for Messi to battle Ospina!
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
Cuadrado scores Colombia’s first penalty by sending the ball to Martinez’s bottom right corner
ARGENTINA 0-1 COLOMBIA
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
Argentina and Colombia are going on penalties after a highly entertaining game at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia.
The Albiceleste opened the scoring after just seven minutes when Giovani Lo Celso’s wonderful through ball found Messi in the area and the captain passed back to Lautaro Martinez who beat David Ospina with a fine finish.
Colombia then missed three major chances to equalise, first with Juan Cuadrado who was played in the area thanks to Luis Diaz and was denied by Emiliano Martinez from close distance just a minute after Lautaro’s opener.
Then Wilmar Barrios fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box that caught a deflection off Lo Celso before hitting Martinez’s left-hand post.
A minute later Yerry Mina got a header from a corner-kick and forced a spectacular save from the Argentina goalkeeper, who lunged towards his top left corner.
Argentina then came close to doubling their lead when Nicolas Gonzalez picked up a header from Lionel Messi’s corner-kick but was denied by Ospina from close range.
Colombia finally got their equaliser on 61 minutes when Edwin Cardona played Diaz down the left flank and the Porto star completely outran Gonzalo Montiel to beat Martinez from a tight angle.
Argentina then missed an incredible opportunity to regain the lead when Daniel Munoz lost the ball in midfield and Ospina came off his area after 74 minutes.
Angel Di Maria dribbled past the Colombia goalkeeper and passed to Lautaro whose shot was blocked on the goal line by Barrios.
The Messi hit Ospina’s right-hand post after a beautiful through ball by Di Maria in the 80th minute
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME, WE’RE GOING ON PENALTIES!!!!!!
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
90+2 Two more minutes to go!
Argentina are pushing for a late winner whereas Colombia are trying to hold on and hit on the counter-attack
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
90+1 YELLOW CARD
Argentina ace Pezzella gets booked for an intentional foul on Diaz, who was on the counter-attack after Messi’s free-kick
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
90 It’s no good, Messi sends the ball straight to the wall.
Four more minutes of stoppage time to go
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
88 Messi puts together a spectacular run down the attacking third and dribbles past two Colombia defenders.
But Barrios brings him down and Argentina have another set-piece from a promising position
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
87 YELLOW CARD
And Argentina ace Rodriguez gets booked just a minute later for a dangerous tackle on Borja
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
86 YELLOW CARD
Colombia ace Cardona gets booked for a rough foul on Paredes
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
85 Argentina don’t seem to want to go to penalties…
They are playing the ball very quickly and are desperately trying to find Messi
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
83 Time is slowly running out in Brasilia…
Reminding you all that if no one scores a winner then we are going straight to penalties
GETTY IMAGES ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
80 WHAT A CHANCE!
So close for Argentina!
Di Maria, who has been brilliant ever since his introduction, finds Messi inside the ball with a spectacular through ball and his left-footed shot rattles Ospina’s right-hand post!
ARGENTINA 1-1 COLOMBIA
78 Here’s how Colombia equalised in the second half.
Incredible finish by Diaz from a tight angle but Argentina keeper Martinez should have done better there..
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
