After Argentina narrowly defeated Ecuador in a penalty shootout, Emiliano Martinez saved Lionel Messi’s blushes as his team advanced to the Copa America semi-finals.
Martinez saved Ecuador’s first two penalties, defending champion Lionel Messi missed the opening penalty, and Nicolas Otamendi scored the game-winning goal to seal a 4-2 triumph.
аfter extrа time hаd cоncluded with а 1-1 tie (Ecuаdоr’s Kevin Rоdriguez hаd equаlized in the 91st minute), the underdоgs still hаd а chаnce tо steаl а win.
Jeremy Sarmiento forced an early save from Martinez and Angelo Preciado glanced Enner Valencia’s cross over the bar, as Ecuador had the better of the first half.
Messi sent in a corner, and after 34 minutes, Argentina took the lead when Lisandro Martinez was left unmarked to head in at the back post after receiving the ball. Argentina began to take control of the game gradually.
After Ecuador lost possession of the ball in the back, Enzo Fernandez had a good opportunity to double their advantage before halftime, but he shot wide.
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Ecuador kept pushing. however, they were denied an equalizer until the very end of regulation time, when Rodriguez finally found the back of the net with a deft touch after a long video assistant referee review for offside had rendered the goal null and void.
In the dying moments, they had a golden opportunity to seal the victory, but Jordy Caicedo’s late arrival to meet a cross caused him to head wide.
The match went to penalties since no additional time was allowed, and Messi’s mischievous chip across the middle missed the target.
After Martinez saved him from Angel Mena and Alan Minda, Ecuador was unable to recover.
“I wasn’t ready to go home,” Martinez stated, gushing over Ecuador.
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Even Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni “did not enjoy the win”—no surprise there.
“Our goalkeeper came up clutch,” he informed them. “We have reached the semis and given the great level of performance of every national team, I think it’s a great achievement.”
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Coach Felix Sanchez Bas of Ecuador stated that his team “can compete against any opponent” after the display.
“The quarter-finals had us playing against the most difficult opponent and I thought we delivered well,” stated the coach.