Lionel Messi scores, Argentina brushes aside Canada, waltzes into ...

10 Jul 2024

Yahoo Sports

Lionel Messi scores Argentina brushes aside Canada waltzes into

Lionel Messi got his first goal of the 2024 Copa América, and Argentina reached the final with a 2-0 win over Canada in Tuesday's semifinal.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The decisive moment of Argentina’s penultimate step toward a Copa América repeat was just like the rest of the climb: simple.

It wasn’t easy. The Argentines had to work, and think, and sweat here at MetLife Stadium on a steamy Tuesday night, in the first of two Copa semifinals. They had to stomach the occasional early scare.

But they brushed aside Canada, 2-0, to reach Sunday’s final. Their clincher was perhaps the most subtle, plain goal Lionel Messi will ever score, his first of the tournament. And their breakthrough, midway through the first half, was straightforward — literally.

It required only two passes, from center back to central midfielder, then central midfielder to center forward. The first, from Cristian Romero to Rodrigo De Paul, was harmless. But the second found Argentina's Canada killer, Julián Álvarez.

His first touch was excellent. His second left Canadian defender Moïse Bombito on the grass. His third beat goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, and put Argentina ahead.

It was Álvarez who had broken through three weeks earlier, when these two teams met in the 2024 Copa América opener. On that night in Atlanta, Canada lasted 48 minutes. Here, it lasted only 22.

In those 22 minutes, the underdogs were frisky. They detected openings. They sprung forward on the counter. They threatened.

But they didn't quite have the quality to pounce on opportunities. And once they conceded, they were toast.

Messi, with a classic feint and a right-footed shot, nearly buried the Reds right before halftime.

Some five minutes after halftime, he did bury them.

He got off the mark at the 2024 Copa América, ironically, with one of the most Cristiano Ronaldo goals of his glittering career. He slid a pass to De Paul. He continued his run. After some penalty-box pinball, he stabbed his foot at an Enzo Fernandez shot, and half-poked, half-caressed it into the net.

He glanced at the assistant referee, unsure whether he was onside. But he was, so he gently leapt into Enzo's arms, and felt a feeling he hadn't felt in a competitive Argentina game since October.

He had looked relatively pedestrian in three prior 2024 Copa América games. And frankly, Argentina had as well.

La Albiceleste looked vulnerable in that opener against Canada. They needed a late and lucky Lautaro Martinez goal to beat Chile. They rested starters in a meaningless group finale against Peru. They then needed a penalty shootout — and a heroic goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez — to survive Ecuador in the quarterfinals.

So they entered this semifinal as unproven as a world champion can be. At times, they seemed to lack attacking ideas.

But they had enough to beat Canada again; they were occasionally sloppy but sufficient.

They have had enough to reach a third consecutive major tournament final, where they'll meet their first mighty opponent of the summer, either Colombia or Uruguay.

Whether they have proved anything yet isn't all that relevant. They are 90 minutes away from another title.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER40 updates

FULL TIME: Argentina 2-0 Canada

22' Julián Álvarez scores after a sweet assist from Rodrigo De Paul.

51' Lionel Messi scores his first goal of the tournament off an assist from Enzo Fernandez.

Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:55 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:55 AM GMT+2

Argentina ???????? win 2-0 vs. Canada ???????? & another Copa América final. 2nd straight & 4th in last 5. 3rd straight final. Never in danger as Canadians came w/ no bite, at least till very end. Next up, their other home: Miami & the winner of a tasty fixture: Uruguay vs. Colombia.

— Luis Miguel Echegaray (@lmechegaray) July 10, 2024
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:55 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:51 AM GMT+2

Two big chances there for Canada. Unlucky not to score yet. Some great build up play.

— Jozy Altidore (@JozyAltidore) July 10, 2024
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:50 AM GMT+2

89' Dibu with the save!
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:49 AM GMT+2

88' Nahuel Molina booked

Molina gets a yellow card.
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:47 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:40 AM GMT+2

79' Ismael Kone booked
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:33 AM GMT+2

71' Jonathan Osorio replaces Alphonso Davies
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:27 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:26 AM GMT+2

Lionel Messi is now the second all-time top scorer in men’s international football ⚽????

As always, he sits at the top with none other than Cristiano Ronaldo ???????? pic.twitter.com/XW5PTkRPRh

— OneFootball (@OneFootball) July 10, 2024
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:26 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:24 AM GMT+2

63' Eustaquio booked
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:19 AM GMT+2

Canada not having a bad game, but can’t compete with the quality in the final third of Argentina. That first goal was so deflating and they haven’t recovered. ????#CopaAmerica

— The Cooligans (@SoccerCooligans) July 10, 2024
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:17 AM GMT+2

Both of these fellas scored goals today

(AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:16 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:16 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:11 AM GMT+2

51' GOAL ARGENTINA

Messi flicks it in off an assist from Fernandez inside the box.
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 3:06 AM GMT+2

Second half starts now

Argentina is just 45 minutes away from another Copa América final
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:44 AM GMT+2

44' Messi's shot goes wide
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:42 AM GMT+2

40' Down goes Messi, but no foul is called
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:37 AM GMT+2

34' Di Maria misses the target
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:33 AM GMT+2

32' Jonathan David goes in the book
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:31 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:27 AM GMT+2

Argentina strikes out of nowhere

From a relative standstill, Argentina just picked apart Canada with two simple passes.

The first, from a Canadian perspective, was harmless: Cristian Romero found Rodrigo De Paul in the defensive midfield position.

The second, from De Paul to Julián Álvarez, shouldn't have been all that harmful, but Moise Bombito and Alistair Johnston let Álvarez find way too much space between them, and then Bombito hesitated on Álvarez's first touch, which was excellent.

1-0. Argentine fans bouncing and singing. Long way back for Canada now.
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:23 AM GMT+2

22' GOAL ARGENTINA!

Julián Álvarez finds the net to give Argentina the early 1-0 lead.
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:20 AM GMT+2

Impressive Canada start

20 minutes in, there haven't been many — or really any — clear-cut chances. And the reason is twofold:

1. Canada, structurally, is set up really soundly

2. Canada hasn't quite connected on the counter. But openings and opportunities are there for the underdogs. All it takes is one connection...
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:19 AM GMT+2

17' Alvarez nearly caught Crepeau off his line
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:12 AM GMT+2

11' Messi's first shot goes wide!
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:09 AM GMT+2

7' Early chance for Canada!
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:05 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 2:02 AM GMT+2

The ball is rolling at MetLife Stadium
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 1:59 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 1:55 AM GMT+2

2/ Jesse Marsch's side will come out in full force and make it annoying but they have to watch out for the over physicality AND make sure to take care of their chances.

Argentina have not played that well offensively. If you want to strike the king, it's now.

Veremos.

— Luis Miguel Echegaray (@lmechegaray) July 9, 2024
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 1:43 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 1:31 AM GMT+2

MetLife Stadium is READY

(Photo by EDUARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 1:21 AM GMT+2
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 1:07 AM GMT+2

The starting 11 for Argentina
Wed, July 10, 2024 at 1:04 AM GMT+2

Canada's starting lineup