Argentina footballers managed the penalty drama in opposition to Ecuador and are the primary semi-finalists of Copy América. The hero of the match in Houston was goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who saved two penalties within the shootout after a 1:1 draw. He thus corrected the hesitation of captain Lionel Messi, who hit the crossbar within the first sequence.
3:35
Minimize of the match (Messi’s penalty at 1:56) | Video: Related Press
Messi’s begin was unsure as he had muscle issues. Ultimately, the eight-time winner of the Golden Ball performed your complete quarter-final. And within the thirty fifth minute, Messi and his group celebrated the lead after Alexis Mac Allister prolonged the ball to Lisandro Martínez after his nook and he opened the scoring with a header.
After an hour of play, Enner Valencia may have equalized, however he aimed the penalty into the submit. Ecuador, in a lineup with Sparta defender Ángel Preciad, scored a objective within the set due to Kevin Rodríguez. Aston Villa goalkeeper Martínez then grew to become the hero of the shootout.
He picked up Ángel Mena and Alan Minda, whereas Álvarez, Mac Allister, Montiel and Otamendi didn’t make a mistake within the Argentine jersey. The defending champions gained 4:2.
Messi, however, broke his enamel on the basic dlobák modeled after Antonín Panenka. He beat the goalkeeper with a gradual kick, however the ball landed solely on the crossbar.
“I felt very offended, I used to be satisfied that I may do it. I knew that the goalkeeper was leaping on cross photographs, that he would go to the facet, but it surely was only a crossbar,” Messi was offended with himself.
However he did not need to be downright unhappy. The Argentines have reached the semi-finals and can wait for his or her opponents.
Canada and Venezuela face one another tonight, the remaining pairs are Colombia – Panama and Uruguay – Brazil. The South American Championship culminates subsequent Sunday.
