Goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez was the hero of Argentina again on Thursday, who only beat brave Ecuador on penalties (4-2), after 1-1 in the 90 minutes, qualifying for the semi-finals – finals of the Copa América.
In a competition that does not include, at this stage, extra time, the Ecuadorians forced the ‘lottery’ with a goal from the substitute Kevin Rodríguez, already in the minute 90 + 1, at a stage where the Argentines were trying to manage. ‘meager’ goal from Lisandro Martínez, at 35.
The team led by the Spaniard Féliz Sánchez was already under threat, with a penalty missed by Enner Valencia, shooting at the post, in the 62nd minute, and, after the 1-1, Jordy Caicedo had a huge chance to qualify Ecuador.
But, the 1-1 continued, and, in the tiebreaker, ‘Dibu’ appeared, as he already did in the last Copa América (in the ‘half’, with Colombia) and in the 2022 World Cup ( in the fourth). ‘, with the Netherlands , and in the final, with France), this time also with the help of Messi, who opened the series with a ‘panenka’ against the crossbar.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper stopped the shots of Mena and Minda, and none of the Argentines lost: Julián Álvarez, MacAllister, Montiel, who came forward in the 90 + 5 minutes, and Benfica captain Otamendi, who sealed the shot 4-2 .
Argentina made only one change compared to the second match (1-0 against Chile), which qualified, with Lautaro in place of Álvarez, Messi remaining in the eleven and Otamendi (entering the 78th minute) and Di María on the bench, and, at the same time, in Ecuador, and facing the 0-0 against Mexico, Gruezo replaced Kevin Rodríguez.
On the bad pitch, the Ecuadorians came in better and created many scoring opportunities, but Moisés Caicedo, isolated, wasted time, in the sixth minute, ‘Dibu’ made a ‘huge’ save against an isolated Sarmiento, in the 15th minute , with Paéz in the drama to shoot for the ‘clouds’, and Preciado, at 16, also shot over the top.
Argentina took 20 minutes to get into the game and Messi was the first to show a sign of life, with a brilliant pass to Nico González, who was not having the best series, at 22, followed by a header after Enzo, at 27 , after the middle of Molina.
In the 34th minute, Messi cut off Enzo, who wasted time, but still shot and won a corner, which led to the goal of the champions of the world, with the captain scoring on the right, MacAllister heading the ball towards the near post and Lisandro Martínez scored. the goal , at 35, also with his head, at will, to the second.
In the latter part of the first half, Enzo missed a great chance to make it 2-0, in the 41st minute, after another great recovery from the Albicelestes, and the Ecuadorian Enner Valencia, who had already been booked, added the second expulsion in the competition in jeopardy.
After the break, and despite a shot from Lautaro, in the 55th minute, Argentina returned expecting him and, in the 60th minute, in a corner, the referee awarded a penalty, from the hand of De Paul, who was close to his body. , but, at the 62, shot Enner Valencia at the right post.
Argentina sensed the danger and went in search of the second goal, but it only created a relative danger with a shot from Messi, with his right foot, which went to Alexander Domínguez, in the 67th minute.
In the last half, the Spaniards Félix Sánchez committed to the attack and two of the players who came in scored the equaliser, in the minute 90+1: Yeboah crossed from the right and Kevin Rodríguez headed the ball beyond the reach of Emiliano Martínez.
After VAR confirmed the goal, Ecuador still believed it was possible to win before penalties and had a great chance, Yeboah heading in from the left and Jordy Caicedo appearing free on the edge of the box to head wide .
The Ecuadorians, looking to equal their presence in the 1993 semi-final, failed to score a second goal and, on penalties, ran into the invincible Emiliano Martínez.