Argentina’s unbeaten run continues at Copa America 2024 after extra heroics from Emiliano Martinez in a penalty shootout nobody noticed coming.
Argentina had been the primary group to punch their ticket to the Copa America 2024 quarter-finals, comfortably ending atop of Group A with all 9 potential factors. Lionel Messi didn’t play La Albiceleste’s final fixture in opposition to Peru after struggling a minor groin harm within the match prior, however the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner recovered in time to get the beginning tonight alongside Lautaro Martinez. The striker earned his begin up high after bagging 4 objectives within the group stage.
How the sport unfolded
The sport acquired off to cagey begin. Neither aspect loved lengthy spells of possession and loads of fouls disrupted the circulation of the sport for the opening ten minutes. Ecuador settled down first, although, testing Emiliano Martinez with two respectable possibilities created by the pace of Moises Caicedo. Sloppy giveaways prevented Argentina from getting something going within the remaining third; La Albiceleste didn’t register their first shot till 27 minutes into the primary half, and it was not even on track.
Irrespective of how disjointed of a begin Argentina had, it solely takes one second for Lionel Messi to strike. The captain discovered Alexis Mac Allister on the close to submit with a nicely taken nook, and the Liverpool midfielder flicked it on to an unmarked Lisandro Martinez on the again submit for a straightforward header to go up 1-0 within the thirty fifth minute. As quickly as La Albiceleste acquired on the scoresheet, they dominated the remainder of the half, comfortably sustaining possession and controlling the sport’s tempo earlier than retreating to the locker room.
Argentina appeared content material to sit down again and defend within the opening phases of the second half, permitting Ecuador to regain their footing within the match. La Tri’s stress paid off; they had been awarded a penalty within the 62nd minute for a handball in opposition to Rodrigo De Paul. Enner Valencia stepped as much as take the penalty, and even despatched Martinez the fallacious approach, however he hit the submit, holding Argentina’s lead secure.
The ultimate half-hour of the match unfolded with out many noteworthy moments or possibilities for both aspect. Argentina seemed like that they had the win till the 91st minute. Nico Gonzalez went down in his personal half, however Ecuador continued ahead, taking a fast free kick. John Yeboah performed a left-footed cross into the field that discovered the top of Kevin Rodriguez for the late sport equalizer.
With out additional time, the match went straight to a penalty shootout. Messi stepped up first and tried a panenka that hit the highest of the crossbar and went over the web. Emiliano Martinez stepped up for his captain, although, saving Ecuador’s first two penalties. In the meantime, Julian Alvarez, Mac Allister, Gonzalo Montiel, and Nicolas Otamendi all buried their penalties, sending Argentina to the semifinals with a 4-2 victory within the penalty shootout.
GK: Emiliano Martínez – 9/10 – Martinez may need conceded his first purpose of the event, however the keeper got here up enormous within the penalty shootout, saving two of Ecuador’s 4 pictures.
RB: Nahuel Molina – 5/10 – Molina struggled to maintain up with Moises Caicedo and did not contribute on the assault.
CB: Cristian Romero – 6/10 – Romero got here up enormous for his group within the early phases of the match, making a number of final ditch tackles to maintain Ecuador at bay.
CB: Lisandro Martínez – 7/10 – Martinez has been good on the again for Argentina all event, and the defender continued his elite type in opposition to Ecuador, locking down Enner Valencia. Martinez additionally scored his first profession purpose for La Albiceleste.
LB: Nicolas Tagliafico – 5/10 – Tagliafico was nearly nonexistent tonight. The left-back tried to hyperlink up with Nico Gonzalez, however sloppy touches let him down.
RM: Rodrigo De Paul – 5/10 – De Paul conceded the penalty that would have gotten Ecuador again into the sport. His lack of imaginative and prescient within the remaining third additionally contributed to Argentina’s stagnant assault.
CM: Enzo Fernandez – 5/10 – Fernandez had a pair stable scoring alternatives within the first half, however did not profit from them. In the end, the Chelsea man struggled to search out his footing within the midfield.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – 8/10 – Mac Allister was simply Argentina’s greatest midfielder tonight, all the time monitoring again to win his aspect the ball, even placing his physique on the road to take action. He additionally assisted Martinez’s purpose and scored within the penalty shootout.
LM: Nico Gonzalez – 5/10 – Gonzalez was the one actual shock in Lionel Scaloni’s XI tonight, and the midfielder did not make an impression. He lacked chemistry with Tagliafico and was general fairly ineffective.
CF: Lionel Messi – 5/10 – Messi recovered from his harm in time to begin tonight, however the Inter Miami man discovered it laborious to get on the ball for many of the match. His completely performed nook, although, led to Argentina’s solely purpose, however then he missed Argentina’s first penalty tonight.
ST: Lautaro Martinez – 5/10 – After his electrical performances within the group stage, Martinez acquired nothing going tonight. He pressed the Ecuadorian backline nicely, however finally, failed to depart his mark on the sport.
Substitutes
SUB: Julian Alvarez – 6/10 – Alvarez was lively up high from the second he got here on the pitch, and scored an important penalty after Messi’s miss.
SUB: Giovanni Lo Celso – 5/10 – Lo Celso solely performed 12 minutes tonight, incomes a regular 5.
SUB: Nicolas Otamendi – 6/10 – Otamendi was introduced on within the 78th minute for additional peak to defend in opposition to Ecuador’s crosses and lengthy balls, however La Tri scored anyway. The middle-back scored the winner within the penalty shootout, although, to ship Argentina to the semifinals.
SUB: Gonzalo Montiel – N/A – Montiel got here on within the ninety fifth minute and scored a penalty within the shootout.
Supervisor
Lionel Scaloni – 6/10 – Lionel Scaloni’s squad lacked depth and invention in opposition to Ecuador. Lautaro Martinez and Nico Gonzalez each began tonight, however they had been somewhat aimless within the remaining third, missing a top quality that the entrance three of Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi, and Angel Di Maria virtually all the time present.
If Emiliano Martinez had not come up enormous for La Albiceleste within the penalty shootout, Scaloni and his squad might have simply exited the competitors tonight.
