Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the hero, saving two penalties and sparing Lionel Messi embarrassment as defending champions Argentina beat Ecuador in a penalty shootout on Thursday to guide their place within the Copa America semi-finals. Lisandro Martinez's header gave world champions Argentina a 1-0 lead ten minutes earlier than half-time, however Kevin Rodriguez scored with a header in stoppage time to equalise for Ecuador, who rose to the event in entrance of 69,456 followers at Houston's NRG Stadium. Messi missed an early penalty, however Martinez's excellent efficiency helped Argentina win the shootout 4-2 to advance to the semi-finals, the place they are going to face the winner of Venezuela and Canada on Friday.
Messi's 'Penenka' miss introduced again reminiscences of the shoot-out defeat to Chile within the 2016 Copa America last, however fortunately goalkeeper Martinez was in no temper to revisit the previous.
He made excellent diving saves to disclaim Angel Mena and Alan Minda to place his facet forward earlier than Nicolas Otamendi transformed the decisive fourth kick.
Martinez saved three spot-kicks in Argentina's 3–2 penalty shootout win over Colombia within the semi-finals of the 2021 Copa America and two spot-kicks within the World Cup last win in opposition to France in Qatar.
Ecuador had been left dissatisfied after a match through which they created sufficient possibilities to win.
Felix Sanchez's facet began brightly, dominating the ball in midfield and piercing the Argentina defence a number of instances.
Moises Caicedo had an early likelihood to attain from Enner Valencia's header however his shot was sluggish and simply saved by Argentina goalkeeper Martinez.
Moises Caicedo then performed a superb move to Jeremy Sarmiento however Martinez made a fast save and Kendry Paez headed the free ball over the bar.
Argentina steadily gained management of the sport however didn’t have their first likelihood till the twenty eighth minute when Enzo Fernández missed a header from Nahuel Molina's cross from the suitable.
Seven minutes later, nevertheless, they took the lead, Messi heading the ball into the online from a nook, which Alexis Mac Allister met with a flick-on on the close to put up and Lisandro Martinez hit a robust header which Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez couldn’t save.
Fernandez quickly had an opportunity to double the lead however he shot along with his left foot in direction of the again put up however missed the ball and Argentina went into half-time with a one-goal lead.
Ecuador received a lifeline within the 62nd minute when Rodrigo De Paul was adjudged to have dealt with the ball contained in the field, however Valencia's penalty went huge of the put up.
However in further time, Ecuador surprised the 15-time Copa champions when Kevin Rodriguez scored with a header from John Yeboah's cross.
There was a VAR assessment to see if Jordan Caicedo had intervened in an offside place on the again put up, however the purpose stood.
Moments later, Jordi Caicedo had an excellent likelihood to win the sport, however he missed an excellent, central cross from the left wing.
This meant the drama of a penalty shoot-out and the prospect to beat the defending champions was misplaced.
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