Messi’s missed penalty was overshadowed by his teammates’ resilience as Argentina defeated Ecuador in a penalty shootout to advance to the Copa America semifinals.
Despite the miss, Argentina triumphed with a 1-1 (4-2 on penalties) result in their Copa America quarterfinal match on Thursday night at NRG Stadium in Houston, in front of a crowd of 69,456 spectators.
Argentina Key Moments
- Messi’s Missed Penalty: Messi approached the penalty spot with the intention of setting the tone for Argentina. However, his chip shot down the middle, though perfectly aimed, grazed the crossbar and went over the net.
- Messi’s Reaction: “A lot of anger, a lot of anger. I just wanted to touch it and it went high.”
Team Effort
- Teammates’ Composure: Despite Messi’s legendary left foot failing him at a crucial moment, his teammates maintained their composure.
- Successful Penalties: Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, Gonzalo Montiel, and Nicolás Otamendi found the back of the net.
- Goalkeeper Heroics: Argentina’s exuberant goalkeeper, Dibu Martinez, delivered a stellar performance to secure the victory against Ecuador.
Looking Ahead- Messi
Argentina’s advance to the semifinals sets the stage for further exciting matches in the Copa America tournament, with the team showing strong unity and determination.
