Defending champion Argentina superior to the Copa America semifinals, beating Ecuador 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw on Thursday evening after conceding a tying objective in second-half damage time.
Lionel Messi put Argentina’s first penalty kick off the crossbar however goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved Ecuador’s first two makes an attempt within the shootout and Nicolas Otamendi beat Alexander Dominguez with the profitable kick.
Lisandro Martinez gave the Albiceleste a Thirty fifth-minute lead, however Kevin Rodriguez tied the rating within the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
![A men's soccer player leaps into his teammates arms in celebration.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7255063.1720151941!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/copa-america-soccer-argentina-ecuador.jpg)
Ecuador’s Enner Valencia had put a penalty kick off a publish within the 62nd minute after a hand ball by Rodrigo De Paul.
Looking for its third straight main title, Argentina superior to the semifinals for the fifth straight Copa America and can play Venezuela or Canada on Tuesday at East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina is seeking to win a document sixteenth Copa America championship.
With Argentina going first within the shootout, Messi tried a Panenka and hit the crossbar.
Julian Alvarez and Alexis Mac Allister transformed to place Argentina forward 2-0, and John Yeboah made Ecuador’s third try.
Gonzalo Montiel gave Argentina a 3-1 lead, Jordy Caicedo transformed to maintain Ecuador alive and Otamendi acquired the winner, tucking the ball contained in the publish simply previous the outstretched arm of Dominguez.
Lisandro Martinez had put Argentina forward within the Thirty fifth minute with a header after Mac Allister headed on Messi’s nook kick. Rodriguez scored when he headed in John Yeboah’s cross.
Below Copa America laws, the match went straight from the tip of regulation to a shootout, with out additional time.
Messi, who didn’t play in Argentina’s final group stage match towards Peru attributable to a leg damage he sustained June 25 towards Chile, acquired a loud ovation when he entered the sphere 45 minutes earlier than kickoff.