HOUSTON: Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the hero of the day, saving two penalties and Lionel Messi’s blushes as holders Argentina defeated Ecuador in a penalty shoot-out to book their spot in the Copa America semi-finals on Thursday.
A Lisandro Martinez header had put Argentina 1-0 up ten minutes before half-time but Kevin Rodriguez headed in a stoppage-time leveller for Ecuador, who had risen to the occasion in front of countless fans at Houston’s NRG Stadium.
Lionel Messi missed the first penalty, chipping against the bar, but thanks to heroics from Martinez, Argentina recovered to win the shoot-out 4-2 and progress into the semi-finals to face the winner of Friday’s clash between Canada and Venezuela.
It was a major scare for the mega event favourites but not for the first time they had their goalkeeper to thank for the relief of win. Martinez had saved three spot-kicks in a 3–2 penalty shootout win for Argentina over Colombia in the semi-final of the 2021 Copa America and also saved two in the World Cup final win against France in Qatar.
Talking to media, Argentine goalkeeper said that this team deserves to go all the way to the final of the mega event.
