Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez emerged because the hero, saving two penalties and sparing Lionel Messi’s blushes as reigning champions Argentina triumphed over Ecuador in an exhilarating penalty shootout, securing their spot within the Copa America semifinals on Thursday.
Lisandro Martinez’s header had given the world champions a 1-0 lead simply 10 minutes earlier than halftime. However, Ecuador’s Kevin Rodriguez equalized in stoppage time, delighting the 69,456 followers at Houston’s NRG Stadium.
Messi missed the opening penalty, chipping in opposition to the bar, however because of the heroics from Martinez, Argentina recovered to win the shootout 4-2 and progress into the semifinals, the place they’ll face the winner of Friday’s match between Venezuela and Canada.
Messi’s ‘Panenka’ miss introduced again recollections of his miss within the shootout loss to Chile within the 2016 Copa remaining, however fortunately for him, goalkeeper Martinez was within the temper to repeat his personal previous heroics.
He pulled off excellent diving saves to disclaim Angel Mena and Alan Minda and get his workforce in entrance earlier than Nicolas Otamendi slotted dwelling the decisive fourth kick.
Martinez had saved three spot kicks in a 3-2 penalty shootout victory for Argentina over Colombia within the semifinal of the 2021 Copa America and famously saved two within the World Cup remaining win in opposition to France in Qatar.
Ecuador was left crestfallen after a match during which that they had created sufficient alternatives to have received the sport.
Felix Sanchez’s workforce made a shiny begin, dominating the ball in midfield and stretching the Argentine protection at instances.
Moises Caicedo had an early alternative, latching on to a header from Enner Valencia, however his shot was tame and simply handled by Argentine keeper Martinez.
Then Caicedo threaded a intelligent move by means of to the spectacular Jeremy Sarmiento, however Martinez was out rapidly to save lots of with an outstretched foot, and Kendry Paez blasted the free ball over the bar.
Argentina progressively bought a foothold within the recreation, but it surely was not till the twenty eighth minute that that they had their first opening when Enzo Fernandez headed huge a Nahuel Molina cross from the suitable.
Seven minutes later, that they had the lead, nonetheless, with Messi driving in a nook that Alexis Mac Allister met on the close to put up with a flick-on and Lisandro Martinez arrived with a robust header that Ecuador keeper Alexander Dominguez was unable to maintain out.
Fernandez quickly had an opportunity to double the lead however fired a left-foot shot huge on the again put up, and Argentina went into the break with a single-goal lead.
Ecuador was given a lifeline within the 62nd minute when Rodrigo De Paul was dominated to have dealt with contained in the field, however Valencia’s penalty struck the skin of the put up.
But in stoppage time, Ecuador shocked the 15-time Copa champions when Kevin Rodriguez glanced in a header from a John Yeboah cross.
There was a VAR evaluate, taking a look at whether or not Jordy Caicedo had interfered in an offside place on the again put up, however the objective stood.
Moments later, Jordy Caicedo had an important probability to win the sport, however he glanced a left-wing cross huge from an important, central place.
That meant the drama of a penalty shootout, and the possibility to upset the defending champions slipped away.
Source: www.dailysabah.com