Rodrigo De Paul of Argentina celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after scoring the first goal of the game. – GETTY IMAGES
Read Sportstar’s highlights from the quarter-finals of the Copa America between Argentina and Ecuador, which will take place at the Estádio Olímpico Pedro Ludovico in Goiania, Brazil.
Argentina took time to flourish , but then there was no stopping it.
The 3-0 win doesn’t tell half the story as Ecuador made things uncomfortable for the Argentines for most of the game, but Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 3-0 win with two assists and one goal. < The second half was more exciting than the first, Argentina scoring two goals – one from Lautaro Martinez and one from captain Lionel Messi.
A red card was also seen in the later stages of the game after Pierro Hincapie, the last man to bring down a tied Angel Di Maria just outside the box, was brought down. The ensuing free kick resulted in a Messi goal which was the icing on the cake after a brilliant game in which he also scored the other two goals.
FULL-TIME (ARGENTINA 3 ECUADOR 0) – ARGENTINA QUALIFIES FOR THE SEMI-FINAL COPA AMERICA AND WILL AGAINST COLOMBIA.
90 3 ‘GOOOAAALLLLLL !!! MESSI converts the FREEKICK !! CHERRY ON THE ENTRANCE !! They almost knew that Messi would score from there. He scores his second direct free kick of the tournament. One goal and two assists – a captain’s performance.
89 ‘The referee checks the monitor and says the challenge was outside the penalty area. IT IS A FREE KICK AND NOT A PENALTY AND THIS MEANS TURNING HINCAPIES YELLOW TO RED.
84 ‘TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! LAUTARO POINTS FOR ARGENTINA !! SHOULD BE PLAYSET AND GAME FOR ARGENTINA !! It was a defensive mistake by Ecuador. A heavy touch allowed Di Maria to get the ball and pass it to Messi, who in turn found Lautaro Martinez. The Inter forward made no mistake with a brilliant finish in the top corner.
83 ‘CHANGE – Leonardo Campana replaces Angelo Preciado at Valencia. Nicolas Tagliafico replaces Nicholas Gonzalez for Argentina.
81 ‘Argentinian goalkeeper Emi Martinez is in danger of injury. Should this turn out to be a major blow to Argentina. He continues for the time being.
80 ‘SCHUSS- Plata with a great barrel and a shot from an acute angle, Martinez sends a corner to the corner. Soft defense by the Argentine defense.
79 ‘Shot by Nicholas Gonzalez with another shot that goes over the Ecuadorian goal.
78 ‘There are nervous moments as the game enters the final phase of the game. A little less than 15 minutes plus additional time. Argentina didn’t have an easy time of it.
75 ‘Messi takes a free kick in his favorite area but hits the wall.
74 ‘Shot by Di Maria. Di Maria’s shot goes nowhere. The ball didn’t roll enough to disturb Galindez.
71 ‘CHANGE: Guido Rodriguez and Angel Di Maria replace Leandro Paredes and Giovani Lo Celso.
68′ Valencia are in the Argentine penalty area claiming Acuna having hit in the face. There was nothing there.
64 ‘CLOSE-Ecuador take a corner and miss the penalty area in the Argentine penalty area. The ball glanced at Nicholas Gonzalez’s head and whistled past the goal.
62 ‘After a Paredes corner kick through Estupinan, it seems like tempers are flaring. Both teams in a scramble in the box. Argentinian players want a penalty but it’s only a corner.
60 ‘Lots of unnecessary challenges flying around right now – nothing unusual from what we saw during this Copa America.
57 ‘SHOT – Valencia are the threat again. Ecuador worked the ball wonderfully in the Argentine half to set up Valencia with a shot, but it was from an acute angle. Martinez’s foot was enough to stave off the danger.
53 ‘Argentina started the second half in a similar way to the first. They have more chances but Ecuador are frustrating the home team.
49 ‘Shot – Messi made a great punch through the Ecuador half but was pushed off goal. He didn’t lose possession and found Gonzalez with a dink pass on the edge of the Ecuadorian penalty area. Gonzalez takes a shot but blows it high above the goal. He was wasteful today.
48 ‘Attacking change at the beginning of the second half by coach Alfaro, who is otherwise more conservative.
46 ‘ECUADOR HALF-TIME CHANGE – Gonzalo Plata and Michael Estrada for Diego Palacios and Carlos Gruezo.
With two wonderful chances, both missed by captain Valencia, it seems it deserves to be in the lead at halftime to go. However, it is De Paul’s goal that separates the two teams at half-time.
It will be an exciting second half. The game is far from over.
45 2 ‘CHANCE – Argentina’s defense falls asleep. Angel Mena hits captain Valencia with a cross from the right. The unmarked Valencia flashes past the goal with his header. Schoolboy defended by the Argentines.
45 ‘DOUBLE SAVE – Great delivery from Messi into the box who found Gonzalez’s head. After saving the first header, Galindez quickly got up to save Gonzalez’s ricochet shot again.
44 ‘Great job by Martinez in finding Messi after a distance kick. Messi would do well to reach the ball and shield it from the Ecuadorian defense but he is brought down. Argentina free kick.
40 ‘GOOAAAALLLLLLL !!!! ARGENTINA POINTS !! HIS RODRIGO DE PAUL !! Lionel Messi was the focus of the move. He sent Gonzalez away with an acre of green in front of him, which in turn was challenged by Galindez. Messi picked up the loose ball, found De Paul in the penalty area, who pushed it in without resistance.
# CopaAmérica Qué pase del! Rodrigo De Paul recibió una gran asistencia de Lionel Messi y abrió el marcador para @Argentina Argentina Ecuador #VibraElContinental #VibraOContinent pic.twitter.com/3j3EGQTShI— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) July 4th 2021
# CopaAmérica Qué pase del! Rodrigo De Paul recibió una gran asistencia de Lionel Messi y abrió el marcador para @Argentina Argentina Ecuador #VibraElContinental #VibraOContektiven pic.twitter.com/3j3EGQTShI
38 ‘CHANCE: A Valencia header is at Martinez’s goal.
35 ‘Argentina’s midfield looks shaky. Ecuador finds it easy to deal with them. Scaloni’s team lack stability in the middle of the park.
32 ‘A well-measured free kick from Messi, but Ecuador comfortably shoots away.
31 ‘BOOKING – Alan Franco (Ecuador) is cautioned as the second player in the game.
29 ‘A foul by two Ecuadorian players on Giovanni Lo Celso. Referee stops play but Argentina wanted the advantage.
28 ‘The game is in full swing and looks livelier now as both teams are attacking.
24′ Argentina are angry with those responsible for not stopping after a tough foul on Molina. The game went on and Ecuador almost scored a goal with a wonderful volley from Mendez after a cross from Mena. The game is eventually stopped but Scaloni and his team are not happy.
23 ‘OFF THE POST – How did Messi miss there? Messi in one-on-one with the goalkeeper with all the time in the world, but his shot hits the inside post and comes back into play. Great finish for Ecuador.
16 ‘POSSIBLE PENALTY FROM ARGENTINA !!! VAR CHECKS !! It seemed like the ball hit Preciado’s hand after a shot from Messi. The referee gave a corner, but the VAR checked it.
14 ‘CHANCE – Lautaro Martinez made a nice run behind the defense and hit goal, but it was an Arboleda header that prevented Alfaro from falling behind .
13 ‘Ecuador try to level the ball through possession. It plays the ball around in its own half without actually doing anything. Argentina seem comfortable when Ecuador allows it in their own half.
10 ‘Space for Otamendi and Ecuador captain Valencia. He’s currently under treatment, but it doesn’t look serious.
7 ‘The game starts on one side, Argentina has the most chances. Ecuador are trying to get used to the game. The visiting team with a direct style of play.
4 ‘The Ecuadorian defense is shaky in the first moments of the game. So far it has been Argentina with all the questions.
2 ‘SHOT- Lautaro Martinez with an early warning shot when he took a quick pass from the center of the park and burst through the Ecuadorian half. His shot is comfortably saved by Galindez.
Argentina starting XI (4-3-3): Martinez (TW); Molina, Pezzella, Otamendi, Acuna; Paredes, Lo Celso, De Paul; Messi (C), Gonzalez, Martinez
Ecuador starting XI (4-2-31): Galindez GK); Preciado, Hincapie, Arboleda, Estupinan; Mena, Mendez; Franco; Gruezo; Palacios; Valencia (C)
Argentina has Lionel Messi, history and form going into the quarter-finals of the Copa America against Ecuador on Saturday.
Ecuador haven’t won a game after three draws and one defeat, but Argentina coach does Lionel Scaloni has « maximum respect » for the team of his compatriot Gustavo Alfaro.
« Ecuador is a dynamic, fast team that could make life difficult for anyone. They have interesting players, ”said Scaloni.
Argentina led their group with three wins and one draw and Messi is in great shape. The captain has scored three goals in the four games while also setting a record for the most international matches in Argentina.
Messi, who doesn’t seem distracted by the end of his contract at Barcelona, benefits from a team that allows him to Being near the penalty area instead of moving the ball further away from the goal.
The first is whether defender Cristian Romero, who has left knee pain, will play. The coach said Romero’s replacement could be Germán Pezzella. There was also a challenge between Nicolás Tagliafico and Marcos Acuña for the left-back.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes is expected to play but Guido Rodríguez could still take his place after good performances.
Ecuador are in the South American World Cup qualifiers Third place after six games but has problems at the Copa America.
« We can’t change the past, but we can change the present, » said Ecuador midfielder Jhegson Méndez.
« We fear no one , We are focused on making history at the Copa America. ”Alfaro was accused of being too defensive in Argentina, but a game like that on Saturday – if Ecuador will be a strong underdog – is to his liking / p> “It is not always the case that the team that looks better wins. In this type of match, those who get it right win and those who make mistakes lose. ”Ecuador has four players who are recovering from injuries; Strikers Enner Valencia and Gonzalo Plata as well as midfielders Méndez and Moisés Caicedo.
Copa America 2021 schedule: full list of matches, kick-off time in IST, venues where you can watch live matches
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