ARGENTINA made it to the Copa America quarter-finals after beating Paraguay 1-0 at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia.
Papu Gomez’s winner sealed qualification for the Albiceleste in a historic night for Lionel Messi, who became the national team’s joint-most capped player of all time.
CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED
What time does Argentina vs Paraguay kick-off?
- Argentina’s clash with Paraguay will kick-off in the early hours of Tuesday, June 22 at 1am UK time.
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
- Argentina vs Paraguay will be shown LIVE on the BBC iPlayer.
- You can live stream the event from the BBC iPlayer app, which is available for download onto your mobile, tablet device or Smart TV.
Can I watch for FREE?
- Yes, the game is available for FREE on the BBC iPlayer, so long as you have a TV licence.
THAT’S ALL FROM BRASILIA
Argentina punched their ticket to the Copa America quarter-finals after beating Paraguay 1-0 at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia in a historic night for Lionel Messi.
Messi equalled former Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano’s record and became his national team’s joint-most capped player of all time.
The Albiceleste extended their two-year undefeated streak thanks to Papu Gomez’s winner but failed to convince once more.
Lionel Scaloni’s men started strong and came close to an opener after just seven minutes when Paraguay’s defenders got mixed up and Piris da Motta accidentally headed the ball back to Sergio Aguero who failed to properly flick it over goalkeeper Antony Silva.
However, the Argentines regrouped just three minutes later when Messi produced a stunning run down the attacking third and passed the ball to Angel Di Maria.
Di Maria then set Gomez up with an incredible low cross in the area and the Sevilla star flicked the ball over Silva to give his country the lead.
Messi came close to combining his 147th appearance with yet another goal on 18 minutes when he fired a free-kick from the edge of the box and just missed the Puebla keeper’s bottom right corner.
Argentina thought they got a second in the first minute of stoppage time when Gomez’s cross down the left flank bounced off Junior Alonso and ended up in the Paraguayan’s own net.
However, the referee and VAR overruled the goal as Messi was offside and blocking Silva’s vision in the build-up when Di Maria produced a long-range effort.
Paraguay showed grit throughout the encounter with some stunning runs by Newcastle star Miguel Almiron but lacked the necessary clinical edge.
Eduardo Berizzo’s men registered a total of 10 shots but only two of them were on target.
Argentina failed to produce a single goalscoring threat in the second half, but Scaloni will take solace in the second consecutive clean sheet and the fact his team didn’t concede any clear-cut chances.
The Albiceleste top Group A with seven points after winning two out of their first three matches and are two points ahead of second-placed Chile.
Thank you for following the action with us, have a great night!
GETTY IMAGES UPDATED TABLE
Argentina have advanced to the Copa America quarter-finals after beating Paraguay.
The Albiceleste top Group A with seven points after two wins and one draw in their first three matches in the competition.
The Albirroja, on the other hand are third with two points separating them from second-placed Chile.
More below:
STATS
Paraguay dominated 57 per cent of possession throughout the match but that didn’t help them get a result.
The Albirroja improved in the second half as they registered 10 shots, but only two of them were on target.
Argentina, on the other hand, produced eight shots, four of which were on target.
Both teams lacked some essential clinical edge but showed some good passing skills as they had an accuracy rate close to 85 per cent
FT: ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
Argentina qualified for the Copa America quarter-finals after beating Paraguay at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia.
The Albiceleste opened the scoring after just 10 minutes when Lionel Messi produced a stunning run down the attacking third and passed the ball to Angel Di Maria.
Di Maria then set Papu Gomez up with an incredible low cross in the area and the forward flicked the ball over Antony Silva to give his country the lead.
Lionel Scaloni’s men thought they got a second in the first minute of stoppage time when Gomez’s cross down the left flank bounced off Junior Alonso and ended up in the Paraguayan’s own net.
However, the referee and VAR overruled the goal as Messi was offside and blocking Silva’s vision in the build-up when Di Maria produced a long-range effort.
Argentina are through but failed to convince once more with a hapless performance in second half
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME IN BRASILIA!!!!!!
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
90 Four more minutes of added time to go.
Will we see anything notable from either side…?
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
88 Messi dominated in the first half with a series of scintillating runs and dribbles.
But just like the rest of Argentina, the Barcelona legend has been poor in the second half
GETTY IMAGES ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
87 SUBSTITUTION
Another double change for Paraguay as Samudio and Gonzalez replace Avalos and Angel Romero respectuvely
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
85 Paraguay have been dominating 57 per cent of possession but still no substance!
If Argentina manage to protect the result then they can only take solace on the clean sheet and the fact they didn’t concede any clear-cut chances.
Because other than that, the Albiceleste have been poor
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
83 CHANCE
Argentina finally show some life as Messi tries a long-range shot that goes straight to Silva’s hands
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
82 SUBSTITUTION
Paraguay manager Berizzo also introduces Sanchez, who replaces Piris
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
80 SUBSTITUTION
Argentina manager Scaloni makes another double change as Dominguez and Angel Correa replace Paredes and Di Maria respectively
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
78 YELLOW CARD
Paraguay ace Lucena gets booked for a heavy challenge on Messi
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
78 Paraguay are obviously dominating this second half but aren’t producing anything substantial.
Argentina seem comfortable with the way the game is going as they know that even a draw would send them to the Copa America quarter-finals
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
75 This has been quite a hapless second half…
Paraguay still lack that clinical edge and Argentina are so predictable when they attack
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
72 SUBSTITUTION
Argentina manager Scaloni shakes things up as Gomez makes way for De Paul, who has been stunning in his last few matches for the Albiceleste.
The Udinese star and Lo Celso have been outstanding in midfield recently
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
70 Here’s an interesting stat for you:
Argentina haven’t managed to score a single second-half goal in their last six games.
Told you the Albiceleste tend to crumble in the dying minutes of their matches despite their two-year undefeated streak
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
68 Argentina’s attacks are so predictable as no one is running vertically.
They just move the ball backwards or to the wings…
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
65 SUBSTITUTION
Paraguay manager Eduardo Berizzo makes a double change.
Oscar Romero replaces Alejandro Romero whereas Lucena takes Cubas’ place
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
63 This is a completely different half in terms of Argentina’s performance.
The Albiceleste are struggling to attack and that is mainly due to the fact that Paraguay have picked their lines up
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
60 We didn’t see much from Aguero tonight.
That raises questions as to what he can offer Barcelona this coming season after a hapless campaign with Manchester City
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
59 SUBSTITUTION
Argentina make the first substitution of the match as Joaquin Correa replaces Aguero, who struggled to shine tonight
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
58 Paraguay are taking the game to Argentina with a fine spell of pressure.
We’ve seen Argentina crumbling in the last few minutes of their most recent encounters against Chile and Colombia
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
55 Paraguay continue to dominate possession and know they can get a goal against this Argentina side.
Remember, the Albiceleste have failed to win seven of their last 15 games, even though they are undefeated for two years now
ARGENTINA 1-0 PARAGUAY
53 Paraguay appear to be holding their lines just a little higher, which prevents Messi from producing the same runs he had in the first half.
At least for now…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
