Defending champions Argentina lived up to their predictions on Tuesday, dominating and beating hosts Canada 2-0, sealing their fourth Copa América final appearance in the last five editions, in East Rutherford.
After a few scares at the beginning, the holders of the world title and also the Finalíssima took the lead in the 23rd minute, through Julián Alvarez, and reached the second goal at the beginning of the second half, in the 51st minute, through. Lionel Messi, who scored his first try.
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Messi’s goal – his 14th in the tournament’s history, in 38 games, only the second scored in six editions, replicating Brazil’s Zizinho (1942 to 1957) – put a practical sentence on a game that never went out of Argentina’s control.
In the final, scheduled for Sunday, the Albiceleste team, runners-up in 2015 and 2016 and champions in 2021, will go in search of the 16th scepter, against Uruguay, which also has 15 titles, or Colombia, champion in 2001, with a clash scheduled for today.
As for the ‘quarters’, Scaloni replaced Molina, Nico González and Lautaro Martínez with Montiel, Di Maria and Julián Alvarez, and Jesse Marsh replaced Ismaël Koné with Osorio.
Argentina started to try to have a big impact on the game, through the possession of the ball, but it was Canada, restless, who took the first two shots, both at Sheffelburg, at five and seven minutes, with a reply from Messi, at 12.
The Albicelestes realized that they could not expose themselves and took control more leisurely, they probably managed to score in the 23rd minute, with De Paul unmarking Álvarez, who beat Bombito and put the ball between Crépeau’s legs.
With an advantage, the world champions were even more on top and, at intervals, with patience, they created opportunities to score the second, which was very close to Di María (34 minutes) and Messi (44) who achieve.
Already in stoppage time, at 45+2 minutes, and after a long time away from Argentina’s goal, Canada created a danger, but Dibu stopped David’s shot, after Johnston had been thrown in.
The second half did not bring anything new, with Argentina dominant and to achieve the second goal in the 51st minute: after a throw-in, Messi cleared De Paul, Koné cut it, but for Enzo, who shot, with the ‘captain ‘ deflection. against the Crépeau.
With two goals in front, Scaloni’s eleven slowed down completely, in management, in a game that dragged on until the end, and, in the 61st minute, Álvarez could have ‘scored twice’, but, isolated by Di María, he saw the Canadian. goalkeeper steals his goal.
At this stage, changes increased, with Benfica captain Otamendi entering in the 64th minute, and Di María, who played for Benfica in 2023/24, leaving at 78, in Argentina, and Porto player Stephen Eustáquio, ‘yellow’ at 63, to be replaced at 72, in Canada.
At the end, the Canadians had two good chances to reduce the difference and ‘ignore’ the Argentinians, but Dibu blocked Osorio’s shot with his feet, in the 89th minute, and Oluwaseyi, in an excellent position, led throughout, in the 90th.
Argentina thus qualified for Sunday’s final, while newcomers Canada will compete for bronze on Saturday.
Game at MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States of America.
Argentina – Canada, 2-0.
At half time: 1-0.
Tags:
1-0, Julian Álvarez, 23 minutes.
2-0, Lionel Messi, 51.
Teams:
Argentina: Emiliano Martínez, Montiel (Molina, 71), Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Tagliafico (Otamendi, 64), Enzo Fernández, Mac Allister (Palacios, 78), De Paul, Messi, Di María (Nico González, 78) and Julián Alvarez ( Lautaro Martinez, 78).
Trainer: Lionel Scaloni.
Canada: Crépeau, Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Alphonso Davies (Osorio, 71), Ismael Koné, Stephen Eustáquio (Choinière, 72), Laryea, Shaffelburg (Millar, 55), Jonathan David (Oluwaseyi, 64) and Larin (Ali Ahmed, 55).
Selector: Jesse Marsch.
Referee: Piero Maza (Chile).
Disciplinary action: Yellow card for Jonathan David (32), Stephen Eustáquio (63), Koné (79) and Molina (88). Yellow card for Canada coach Jesse Marsh (80).
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