Emi Martínez stars as Argentina beat Ecuador on penalties at Copa América

Argentina advanced to the Copa América semi-finals, beating Ecuador 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw in Texas.

Lionel Messi missed Argentina’s first penalty but was reprieved by goalkeeper Emi Martínez, who saved Ecuador’s first two efforts. Lisandro Martínez had given Argentina the lead 10 minutes before half-time, but Kevin Rodríguez equalised with a superb header in injury time at the end of the second half. Ecuador’s captain Enner Valencia had earlier hit the post from the penalty spot after a handball by Rodrigo De Paul.

With Argentina going first in the shootout, Messi tried a Panenka and hit the crossbar. Martínez, the goalkeeper in Argentina’s shootout win over France in the 2022 World Cup final, then saved kicks from Ángel Mena and Alan Minda. Julián Álvarez and Alexis Mac Allister converted to put Argentina ahead 2-0, and after John Yeboah, Gonzalo Montiel and Jordy Caicedo all scored, Nicolas Otamendi struck the winning penalty.

“I wasn’t ready to go home,” Martínez said. “This team deserved to advance. They complicated us a lot. They played a great match, very physical. We knew they were one of the top rivals in Copa América.”

Otamendi had come on as substitute for Lisandro Martínez, who put Argentina ahead in the 35th minute with a header after Mac Allister flicked on Messi’s corner kick.

Rodríguez scored when he headed in fellow substitute Yeboah’s cross. Jordy Caicedo then missed an excellent chance to score a dramatic winner in the seventh minute of added time.

“The quarter-finals had us playing against the most difficult opponent, and I thought we delivered well,” Ecuador coach Félix Sánchez Bas said through an interpreter. “We showed this team can compete against any opponent.”

Argentina will now play either Canada or Venezuela in the semi-final on Tuesday.