LIONEL MESSI led Argentina to a dominant 4-1 win over Bolivia on the same night he became his country’s most capped player of all time.
Papu Gomez opened the scoring before Messi registered an impressive brace in less than 10 minutes.
Erwin Saavedra put Bolivia on the scoreboard in the second half and Lautaro Martinez completed the Albiceleste’s triumph soon after.
Relive all the action in our live blog below…
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THAT’S ALL FROM CUIABA
Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 4-1 Copa America triumph at the Arena Pantanal on the same night he became his country’s most capped player of all time.
Messi eclipsed former Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano’s record and registered his 148th international appearance, which he celebrated with an impressive brace that sealed first place in the Albiceleste’s group.
Lionel Scaloni’s men opened the scoring after just six minutes when the Argentine captain’s perfect ball found Papu Gomez unmarked and the Sevilla star beat Carlos Lampe with a fine finish.
Gomez was then floored by Diego Bejarano inside the area and Messi hit the target from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute.
The Barcelona legend completed his brace just nine minutes later thanks to a scintillating flick over Lampe, following a superb cross by Sergio Aguero who also registered his 100th international appearance.
Bolivia showed some life in the second half as Erwin Saavedra beat Franco Armani with a fine finish following a beautiful low cross from Leonel Justiniano in the hour-mark.
But Lautaro Martinez sealed Argentina’s triumph just five minutes later following a moment of confusion in the Bolivians’ box.
Bolivia could have suffered a heavier defeat if it wasn’t for goalkeeper Lampe, who made a total of nine saves.
The 34-year-old shot stopper made a series of crucial saves as he kept out two consecutive efforts by Martinez on 70 minutes.
He also denied Messi a hat-trick on two separate occasions as he blocked a shot down his bottom right corner and then got the better of Julian Alvarez who tried to score from close range after getting the rebound.
Lampe then saved a late free-kick from the Barcelona legend, who sent the ball under the Bolivian wall.
Argentina are now set to face Ecuador in the Copa America quarter-finals on Saturday, following an undefeated run in the group stage where they won three out of four matches
Thanks for following the action with us, have a lovely night!
GETTY IMAGES FINAL TABLE
Argentina finished first in Group A with three wins and a perfect undefeated record in all of their four matches.
The Albiceleste completed the first round with three points ahead of second-placed Uruguay.
Bolivia, on the other hand, finished last after losing all four of their games.
More below:
STATS
Argentina dominated a whopping 68 per cent of possession against Bolivia in their final match of the Copa America group stage.
The Albiceleste registered a staggering total of 18 shots, 13 of which were on target.
Bolivia, on the other hand, only managed five shots, two of which were on target.
The Verde could have suffered an even heavier defeat if it wasn’t for Carlos Lampe, who made nine saves
FT: ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
Argentina sealed first place in their Copa America group after a dominating display against Bolivia at the Arena Pantanal.
The Albiceleste opened the scoring after just six minutes when Lionel Messi’s perfect ball found Papu Gomez unmarked and the Sevilla star beat Carlos Lampe with a fine finish.
Gomez was then floored by Diego Bejarano inside the area and Messi celebrated his record 148th cap with a goal from the penalty spot.
The Barcelona legend registered a brace in the 42nd minute after a perfect flick over Lampe, following a superb cross by Sergio Aguero.
Bolivia showed some life in the second half as Erwin Saavedra beat Franco Armani with a fine finish following a beautiful low cross from Leonel Justiniano on the hour-mark.
But Lautaro Martinez sealed Argentina’s triumph just five minutes later following a moment of confusion in the Bolivians’ box
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT’S FULL-TIME IN CUIABA!!!!
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
90+2 YELLOW CARD
Bolivia ace Wayar gets booked shortly after his introduction
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
90+2 CHANCE!
Messi, who is still on a hat-trick, tries a shot from a tight angle on the left but Lampe denies him.
The Bolivia keeper just made his ninth save!
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
90+1 CHANCE
Vaca wastes that free-kick as he sends the ball to the Argentine wall and the same happens with his rebound.
Three minutes of added time to go
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
90 YELLOW CARD
Argentina ace Acuna gets booked for a foul on Henry Vaca from behind.
Bolivia get a free kick from a very promising position at the edge of the box
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
88 Argentina star Lautaro suffers a hard challenge from behind by Haquin.
The striker is hurt but thankfully gets back up on his feet
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
86 YELLOW CARD
Bolivia ace Ramallo gets booked for an elbow on Martinez, there seems to be some blood on the Argentina ace’s left hand after that challenge
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
85 SUBSTITUTION
Bolivia manager Farias makes his final change as Villarroel replaces Saavedra
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
83 It is more than just safe to assume that Argentina have sealed first place in Group A.
If I’m not mistaken, the Albiceleste will face Ecuador in the Copa America quarter-finals
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
81 SUBSTITUTION
Bolivia manager Farias makes another change as Wayar replaces Fernandez
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
81 Alvarez came extremely close to making it five earlier on as his close-range shot picked up a deflection and almost hit the back of the net.
But Bolivia star Lampe, who has been tremendous tonight, stopped it at the last moment with his right arm
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
80 Here’s how Lautaro scored Argentina’s fourth just two minutes after his introduction.
And yes, Messi was part of that goal!
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
77 CHANCE!
Argentina legend Messi tries a beautiful shot from a free-kick but Lampe saves down his bottom right corner.
Alvarez gets the rebound in front of the Bolivia keeper but his shot is also saved!
What a goalie!
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
75 Here’s how Saavedra put Bolivia on the scoresheet with a fine finish.
Check out the lovely switch between Justiniano and Chura
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
73 Saavedra has been Bolivia’s best player in the Copa America this year.
Well, him and Lampe it seems, as the goalkeeper has been so impressive in Brazil
GETTY IMAGES ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
71 SUBSTITUTION
Argentina manager Scaloni makes another couple of changes as Paredes and Dominguez come on for Rodriguez and Palacios respectively
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
70 WHAT A CHANCE!
Bolivia goalkeeper Lampe has been such a standout player in the Copa America, such a shame we won’t see any more of him.
Just now, the star shot-stopper denied two straight efforts by Lautaro with some fine lunges
ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
68 Just two minutes after his introduction, Lautaro gets on the scoresheet.
What a partnership the Inter Milan star has had with Messi in the Copa America
GETTY IMAGES ARGENTINA 4-1 BOLIVIA
65 Chaos ensues in Bolivia’s box after Acunas’s cross from the left.
The ball reaches Lautaro, who finds the back of the net on his first contact with the ball
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!
ARGENTINA MAK IT FOUR WITH LAUTARO!!!!!
ARGENTINA 3-1 BOLIVIA
63 SUBSTITUTION
Argentina manager Scaloni responds with a double change as Lautaro and Lo Celso replace Aguero and Correa respectively
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
