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Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez celebrates his goal that helped Argentina advance to the Copa America semifinals on Thursday. -
Messi was left in despair after Argentina missed the first penalty of their quarter-final shootout with Ecuador on Thursday.
Lisandro Martinez’s goal after 35 minutes looked set to decide Thursday’s Copa America quarter-final, but it ended in a penalty shootout.
In the penalty shootout, Argentina’s Messi missed the opening penalty, and the defending champions of the South American Football Championship eventually won 4-2.
Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez scored for Argentina from a corner after 35 minutes, with Lionel Messi heading the ball past Alexis Macallister before Martinez headed it home.
Messi forms an attacking duo with title-winning goalscorer Lautaro Martinez for Argentina after some uncertainty surrounding his starting berth due to a hamstring injury that ruled him out of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Peru.
Lautaro Martinez was also substituted in the second half and therefore did not get the chance to add to his tally – he has four goals so far in the league.
Veteran Enner Valencia had a chance to equalize for Ecuador with a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, but he hit the post and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved the rebound.
Drama ensued when Ecuador’s Kevin Rodriguez equalised the score at 1-1 one minute into extra time. The goal had to undergo a thorough VAR check before being approved, sending the quarter-finals to a direct penalty shootout.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi took the lead and scored a penalty. So did Ecuador’s Angel Mena. But from then on, Argentina scored four goals in a row, while Ecuador failed again, and in the end they had to be defeated.
Argentina are the defending champions of the Copa America and will face the winner of Venezuela and Canada in the semi-finals.
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