Lionel Messi stepped up to take Argentina’s first penalty
kick in a Copa America shootout against Ecuador.
Only this time, Messi hit the
crossbar, jeopardizing a trip to the semifinals.
“I was pretty upset,” he said, “but
at the same time I was secure.”
He had confidence in goalkeeper
Emiliano Martínez, who saved Argentina’s bid for a second straight Copa America
title,
“I wasn’t ready to go home,” Martínez said. “This
team deserved to advance. They complicated us a lot. They played a great match,
very physical. We knew they were one of the top rivals in Copa America.”
Martínez stopped shootout attempts by Ángel Mena and
Alan Minda, and Argentina
advanced to the Copa America semifinals with a 4-2 victory on penalty kicks
following a 1-1 draw Thursday night
“We know what Dibu is capable of,
that he really thrives on those moments. He really enjoys them,” Messi said
about Martínez, using the goalkeeper’s nickname.
Argentina conceded a tying goal to
Ecuador in second-half injury time but rebound and won the quarterfinal when
Nicolás Otamendi beat Alexander Domínguez with the winning kick.
Seeking its third straight major title, Argentina advanced
to the semifinals for the fifth straight Copa America and will play Venezuela
or Canada on Tuesday at East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina is looking to
win a record 16th Copa America championship.
“Our goalkeeper came up clutch,” Argentina coach Lionel
Scaloni said through an interpreter.
