Emiliano Martinez was Argentina’s penalty shootout hero as soon as extra as they edged out Ecuador to achieve the Copa America semi-finals, regardless of Lionel Messi’s failed Panenka try.
The reigning champions survived an enormous scare at NRG Stadium, the place Kevin Rodriguez’s stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Lisandro Martinez’s first-half header to take the last-eight tie the space.
It appeared La Albiceleste’s title defence was doubtful when Messi, again within the facet after lacking the Peru match with a hamstring damage, chipped the primary penalty in opposition to the crossbar.
However Emiliano Martinez, who performed starring roles from the spot throughout La Albiceleste’s 2022 World Cup triumph, made saves to disclaim Angel Mena and Alan Minda, earlier than Nicolas Otamendi struck the decisive kick for Lionel Scaloni’s facet.
Felix Sanchez’s Ecuador had not scored in a Copa America quarter-final since 1997, however they made the brighter begin in Houston.
Cristian Romero nearly denied Moises Caicedo a shot on purpose, earlier than Emiliano Martinez got here to Argentina’s rescue as he blocked Jeremy Sarmiento’s effort from a decent angle.
Nonetheless, the reigning champions took the lead within the thirty fifth minute when Alexis Mac Allister flicked Messi’s nook in direction of the far put up, the place the unmarked Lisandro Martinez nodded into an empty web.
Ecuador have been handed a gilt-edge alternative to equalise from the penalty spot simply after the hour mark, when Rodrigo De Paul was adjudged to have dealt with within the field.
Nonetheless, they may not capitalise as Enner Valencia struck Emiliano Martinez’s proper put up together with his spot-kick, regardless of sending the Argentina goalkeeper the flawed manner.
However there was to be a dramatic late twist in stoppage time as Rodriguez glanced residence John Yeboah’s cross, with La Tricolor nearly finishing a sensational turnaround with Jordy Caicedo heading narrowly broad with the final kick of regular time.
They landed the primary blow of the shootout when Messi’s tried Panenka clipped the highest of the crossbar, nevertheless it proved a false daybreak as Emiliano Martinez took centre stage but once more to swing the shootout again in Argentina’s favour, earlier than they scraped over the road.
1 – Lisandro Martínez es el primer defensor que anota para Argentina por CONMEBOL Copa América desde Víctor Cuesta contra Bolivia en la fase de grupos de la edición 2016, también en Estados Unidos. Escenario. pic.twitter.com/TF9TCQ5oHv
— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) July 5, 2024
Reigning champions scrape by means of by the pores and skin of their enamel
Argentina are the primary facet by means of to the final 4, and their title defence stays on observe, however solely simply.
They broke the impasse by means of Lisandro Martinez, who was in the best place to open his senior worldwide account, whereas changing into the primary Argentina defender to attain within the Copa America since Victor Cuesta eight years in the past.
Emiliano Martinez regarded set to earn a fourth clear sheet of this match, and turn into the second Argentina goalkeeper after Sergio Romero to achieve that tally in separate editions, however Rodriguez had different concepts together with his dramatic equaliser.
Nonetheless, after Messi missed in one more Copa America shootout – famously doing so within the 2016 closing defeat to Chile – the goalkeeper dug his skipper out of a gap with two good saves ultimately proving the distinction.
Argentina hoodoo continues as Ecuador pay the penalty
Ecuador knew they wanted to rewrite historical past to attain a constructive outcome right here. La Tricolor had by no means overwhelmed Argentina within the Copa America, dropping 11 and drawing 5 of their 16 earlier makes an attempt, whereas that they had received simply 5 of the 40 conferences total.
Regardless of conceding within the opening half for the primary time on this match, they outshot their opponents (4 to 3) within the first 45 minutes, however the final of these efforts got here within the sixteenth minute.
Although they snatched a dramatic equaliser, Valencia’s earlier penalty miss was an indication of issues to return, because the look ahead to a primary semi-final look since 1993 goes on.
Nonetheless, Sanchez’s facet depart america having made historical past. Certainly, at simply 17 years and 61 days previous, rising star Kendry Paez turned the youngest participant to seem in a Copa America quarter-final.
