Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez emerged as the hero, saving two penalties and sparing Lionel Messi’s blushes as defending champions Argentina defeated Ecuador in a penalty shoot-out on Thursday to secure their place in the Copa America semi-finals.
Lisandro Martinez’s header had given world champions Argentina a 1-0 lead ten minutes before halftime, but Kevin Rodriguez headed in a stoppage-time equalizer for Ecuador, thrilling the 69,456 fans at Houston’s NRG Stadium.
Messi missed the opening penalty, chipping the ball against the bar, but thanks to Martinez’s heroics, Argentina bounced back to win the shoot-out 4-2 and advance to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of Friday’s match between Venezuela and Canada.
Messi’s ‘panenka’ miss echoed his miss in the shoot-out loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa final, but fortunately for him, goalkeeper Martinez was in top form.
Martinez made superb diving saves to deny Angel Mena and Alan Minda, putting his team ahead before Nicolas Otamendi slotted home the decisive fourth kick.
Martinez had previously saved three spot-kicks in a 3-2 penalty shootout victory for Argentina over Colombia in the semi-final of the 2021 Copa America and famously saved two in the World Cup final win against France in Qatar.
Ecuador was heartbroken after a match in which they had created enough opportunities to win.
Felix Sanchez’s team started brightly, dominating midfield and stretching the Argentine defense at times.
Moises Caicedo had an early chance, latching onto a header from Enner Valencia, but his shot was tame and easily handled by Argentine keeper Martinez.
Later, Caicedo threaded a clever pass to the impressive Jeremy Sarmiento, but Martinez was quick to save with an outstretched foot, and Kendry Paez blasted the loose ball over the bar.
Argentina gradually gained a foothold in the game, but it was not until the 28th minute that they had their first chance, with Enzo Fernandez heading wide a Nahuel Molina cross from the right.
Seven minutes later, Argentina took the lead when Messi drove in a corner that Alexis Mac Allister flicked on at the near post, and Lisandro Martinez powered a header that Ecuador keeper Alexander Dominguez couldn’t keep out.
Fernandez soon had a chance to double the lead but fired a left-foot shot wide at the back post, and Argentina went into the break with a single-goal lead.
Ecuador was given a lifeline in the 62nd minute when Rodrigo De Paul was ruled to have handled inside the box, but Valencia’s penalty struck the outside of the post.
In stoppage time, Ecuador stunned the 15-time Copa champions when Kevin Rodriguez glanced in a header from a John Yeboah cross.
A VAR review examined whether Jordy Caicedo had interfered from an offside position at the back post, but the goal stood.
Moments later, Jordy Caicedo had a great chance to win the game, but he glanced a left-wing cross wide from a prime position, leading to the penalty shoot-out and Ecuador’s chance to upset the defending champions slipping away.
