The entire stadium solely had eyes for him and it is good to Lionel Messi that got here the answer, with a full axis cross on the origin of the primary aim of Argentina which beat Canada 2-0, in opening Thursday in Atlanta of the Copa America.
The reigning world champions, favorites to elevate the continental trophy a second time in a row, are thus launching their American summer season in a super method.
The Messi gang waited till the locker room returned to open the scoring. The cross of the flea left the Canadian goalkeeper sheepish, popping out late, and who collapsed after a collision with Argentine midfielder Mac Allister.
Julian Alvarez, Manchester Metropolis’s pocket striker, simply needed to push the ball to the again of the empty cage to launch the Albiceleste (1-0, forty ninth).
A vigorous however imprecise Messi on the assault entrance got here shut to creating the break with a little bit dive proper subsequent to the submit (79th) and a pointy counterattack (82nd).
Canada was not unworthy, with its captain Alphonso Davies who multiplied the excesses within the first interval. A blinding acceleration and the Bayern Munich full-back goes left and middle for Canadian midfielder Buchanan who shoots large (thirty second).
A primary thrill for the reds who pushed two minutes later with one other drive from Davies. His middle again discovered Lille’s Jonathan David, his shot was blocked.
“We knew what Canada was able to. It was a really powerful match, very bodily, particularly within the first half, there was little area. Luckily, we discovered the answer rapidly within the second half and we had been capable of play a little bit higher“, declared Lionel Messi after the match.
Argentina knew speed up when crucial and the second act of the match was certainly one-way, topped by Inter Milan scorer Lautaro Martinez, who entered within the 76th minute for the primary scorer, and who dampened hopes Canadians on the finish of the match (88th).
The Argentine followers, who got here to populate the cauldron of Atlanta and its 70,564 spectators, may let their pleasure explode whereas Messi threw himself into the arms of his teammates.
Disadvantaged of a aim, the eight-time Golden Ball winner nonetheless celebrated his crew’s victory. And one other, extra symbolic: that of probably the most capped participant within the Copa. That is the thirty fifth look of the Argentine genius within the Continental Cup, which he gained in 2021 and which he intends to elevate once more on July 14 in Miami.
To do that, the reigning champions should face powerful competitors, beginning with Chile in 5 days.
