Lionel Messi’s first objective at this version of Copa América, and his 14th within the match general, sealed Argentina’s 2-0 semi-final victory over Canada in entrance of greater than 80,000 followers at a sizzling and humid MetLife Stadium on Tuesday night time.
The Argentina captain deflected an Enzo Fernández shot into the online from shut vary early within the second half to seal his staff’s place in Sunday’s remaining. Messi’s objective added to a first-half Julián Álvarez strike towards the run of play, which curtailed a spirited opening from Jesse Marsch’s facet.
La Albiceleste will tackle Uruguay or Colombia within the remaining on the Miami Dolphins’ Arduous Rock Stadium. The second semi-final takes place in Charlotte on Wednesday night time.
Argentina, the heavy match favourites, have been a lot improved over their quarter-final win towards Ecuador – when Emi Martínez was as soon as once more wanted to get his staff by way of a penalty shootout. Nonetheless, a sterner check will must be handed for Lionel Scaloni’s staff if the world champions are to reassert their dominance over the Americas.
It was the Canadians who had the higher of the opening exchanges, on a unusually sandy and uneven floor. The underdogs’ crisp passing, motion and superior operating energy manufactured a number of promising assaults. Nashville SC ahead Jacob Shaffelburg may need completed higher with capturing alternatives on two events inside the first 10 minutes.
Argentina, by comparability, have been much less energetic and ponderous in possession. Messi fired simply extensive from 18 yards for his staff’s solely effort on objective through the opening forays.
So, it was out of not-a-lot that Argentina took the lead on 22 minutes by way of Álvarez. The Manchester Metropolis ahead latched on to Rodrigo De Paul’s through-ball and evaded the determined problem of Moïse Bombito earlier than scraping the ball by way of the legs of Maxime Crépeau, Canada’s shootout hero within the quarters.
The objective subdued the Canadians’ assured and fast-paced begin. Their excessive depth urgent evaporated within the minutes earlier than half-time on a sweaty New Jersey night, but the prolific Jonathan David may need restored parity in first-half stoppage time after a poked effort from a protracted throw was blocked by Martínez.
Argentina began the second interval assertively they usually have been rapidly rewarded when Messi bought the slightest of touches to divert Fernández’s effort previous Crépeau within the 51st minute. It was his 14th objective in 38 Copa América video games and 109th in 186 caps for the nationwide facet. Messi appeared brighter and fitter than within the quarter-final, when he had solely 32 touches (his fewest since 2011 in a full aggressive sport for Argentina, per Opta) and in addition missed within the shootout.
Surprisingly, he additionally accomplished the total 90 minutes, which allayed fears in regards to the adductor harm that noticed him rested for the group stage sport in Miami towards Peru. Whereas Messi stayed on to the delight of the followers in attendance, one other Argentina nice, Ángel Di María, was withdrawn, protected within the information his final sport earlier than retiring from worldwide soccer might be Sunday’s remaining.
Canada continued to chase the sport gallantly, even when star participant Alphonso Davies was compelled to depart with an obvious harm with 20 minutes left. Tani Oluwaseyi may have scored twice in two minutes within the match’s remaining phases, however squandered each alternatives; first capturing too near Martínez after which heading extensive with the objective gaping.
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The defeat ended Canada’s spectacular progress on the match – though they’ll play for third place on Saturday night time. When these two sides met within the match opener – a snug, if imperfect 2-0 win for Argentina final month – few envisioned a semi-final rematch.
Nonetheless, Canada proved themselves to be the category of Concacaf by recovering to progress previous Chile and Peru within the group earlier than incomes a last-four berth by way of a shootout win over Venezuela.
It was a testomony to the speedy progress below American coach Marsch, who led Canada into a serious match semi-final in simply his seventh sport in cost.
This week, Marsch recalled attending Italy’s semi-final win on the similar location through the 1994 World Cup at a time when he was firing within the objectives 50 miles away for Princeton College.
US Soccer officers, amid their messy teaching quagmire and simply two years from co-hosting the World Cup in 2026, may need watched Canada’s progress at this match, with a much less succesful squad, and questioned “what if?”
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