Revenge for Messi’s drama
Heat collapse overshadows Argentina’s tough Copa victory
26.06.2024, 07:35
Argentina celebrates its next victory at the Copa – albeit with a lot of effort. Lautaro Martínez scores very late against Chile. One day after his 37th birthday, Lionel Messi cannot shine this time. Canada’s Jonathan David, meanwhile, scores a historic goal.
Football world champions Argentina are the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Copa América in the USA. The defending champions beat Chile 1-0 (0-0) in Group A. In the 2016 final, Lionel Messi and Co. lost to La Roja on penalties at the same venue. Tournament debutants Canada scored their first goal at a Copa América, their first victory, with a 1-0 (0-0) win against Peru. In the first duel in the group, the Albiceleste coached by Lionel Scaloni beat Canada 2-0.
Eight years ago, Messi failed to save his shot in a penalty shootout at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and, after losing his fourth final, spontaneously announced his retirement from the “Seleccion”. But nothing came of it, and so the 37-year-old celebrated his belated satisfaction on Tuesday, one day after his birthday, with the goal gift from Lautaro Martínez (88′).
“It was a deserved victory,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, but admitted: “The goal came at a moment when we no longer thought it was possible.” His team had previously missed numerous chances, and the unobtrusive Messi (36th) only hit the post. In the end, Argentina remained undefeated in their 30th Copa duel against their rivals across the Andes, even though Chile had won the penalty shootout in the 2015 and 2016 finals after 120 goalless minutes.
In Kansas City, Jonathan David went down in history as Canada’s first goalscorer at a Copa. After Peru’s Miguel Araujo was sent off (59th minute), the 24-year-old took advantage of the numerical superiority to score the winning goal (74th minute). The match was overshadowed by the heat-induced collapse of assistant referee Humberto Panjoj from Guatemala shortly before the half-time whistle, who was immediately taken to hospital.
Argentina (6 points) only needs a draw against Peru (1) on Saturday to win the group. Canada (3) under the leadership of captain Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) is eyeing the second quarter-final ticket in the duel against Chile (1).