Lionel Messi relied on his Argentine teammates to save him, and the world champions delivered for their all-time captain.
Messi missed a penalty kick in a shootout, but Argentina defeated Ecuador 1-1 (4-2 on penalty kicks) in their Copa America quarterfinal encounter Thursday night in front of 69,456 fans at NRG Stadium in Houston to progress to the semifinal.
Messi went up with the ball in his palm and lined up Argentina’s first kick, setting the tone and he missed it.
His chip shot down the middle was perfect, but it tipped the crossbar and sailed over the goal.
Messi stated he attempted the kick in that manner after talking with Argentina’s two goalkeepers.
“A lot of anger, a lot of anger,” Messi said of his penalty miss. “I just wanted to touch it, and it went high.”
Messi’s famous left foot has a slightly off touch. He wasn’t as sharp as he usually is, and he needed to be in the moment.
Perhaps a side effect of missing a game and rehabbing a right groin/adductor injury in the last nine days.
Messi squandered an opportunity to provide another epic moment and propel Messi Mania to new heights for his following of Argentine fans and followers across the world.
However, Messi’s error did not deter the Argentine national team, the defending Copa America 2021 and World Cup 2022 champions.
They’ve been in far more difficult situations before, and they delivered for Messi. After all, Messi was the reason Argentina led for so long before losing.
Argentina defeated Ecuador with goals from Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, Gonzalo Montiel, and Nicolás Otamendi in the penalty round. Argentina’s goalkeeper, Dibu Martinez, led the celebrations.
The Argentinians celebrated with music and dancing, while Ecuador conceded defeat after a spectacular comeback.
Argentina will face the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal between Venezuela and Canada on July 9.
“The team feels blind confidence in their goalkeeper, and for us, it is fundamental. Even if Leo failed, the team knew that something positive was going to happen,” Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni said of the victory.
Ecuador’s Kevin Rodríguez scored a header in stoppage time to draw the match in the 91st minute.
In the penalty shootout, John Yeboah and Jordy Caicedo scored, but Caicedo missed a late shot.
Ecuador’s Enner Valencia had a wonderful opportunity to equalise the game in the 62nd minute, as his penalty kick ricocheted against the left post.
“Our players gave it their all,” Ecuador coach Felix Sanchez said. “We got the equaliser, but unfortunately we were eliminated in the shootout.”
Before the game-tying goal, it appeared that Argentina would easily advance to the semifinals.
Messi’s kick from the right side was short off the goal area, but Alexis MacAllister used his head to bounce the ball backwards to Martínez, who scored.
The Argentinian missed his only shot of the game in the second half with his right boot.
He has yet to score in three Copa America games, but he did provide an assist in Argentina’s first encounter.
During the match, he also set a Copa America record for the most minutes played in the competition.
Only two games remain before Messi and Argentina can lift another trophy and add another championship to their reigning soccer dynasty.
