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A ter.rible dramatic scenario occurs from Messi in 30 seconds, and without it, Argentina would have left the Copa America tournament
Lionel Messi hit the bar with a failed panenka spot-kick in Argentina’s Copa America quarter final shootout win against Ecuador Thursday.
WHAT HAPPENED?Messi endured a rare big-moment slip-up in Argentina’s Copa America quarter-final clash with Ecuador, pinging a penalty off the bar in La Albiceleste’s shootout win.Ecuadorian goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez consoled the Inter Miami forward immediately, but it was a shocking start to the shootout.
His blunder ultimately mattered little as Emi Martinez provided yet another memorable shootout performance, stopping two Ecuador attempts, while the rest of Messi’s side converted to seal a 4-2 win.Still, though. It’s a haunting moment for the Argentine. One can’t help but think of his missed attempt in the 2016 Copa America final – a moment that saw him briefly retire from the national team.
WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI AND ARGENTINA?La Albiceleste have secured a spot in a fifth straight Copa America semifinal. They will face the winner of Venezuela and Canada Tuesday evening.
The 90 minutes were no Argentina’s best
In the match played at the NRG stadium in Houston, Texas, Ecuador made Argentina uncomfortable in the first minutes with passes behind their defenders for the speed of Jeremy Sarmiento and the mobility of captain Enner Valencia.
Even when Argentina got a goal to take the lead after a header from Lisandro Martínez in the 35th minute, Enner Valencia missed a penalty that could have tied the match, but it in the final minute of stoppage time that Ecuador ended up getting the equalizer after Kevin Rodríguez got a goal. Things were not smooth for Argentina and they know it.
“They made it a lot difficult for us, we couldn’t play very well, they played a great game, very physical. We knew they were going to be one of the toughest rivals in the Cup. They tied us at the end and we missed the first penalty, and it was wrong for us. uphill,” “Dibu” Martínez said after the game.
“I told the guys that I wasn’t ready to go home, this group deserved to continue.” Now it’s time to rest and regroup before another complicated matchup they will have to face next week.
