Lautaro Martinez scores an extra-time winner to give Argentina a 1-0 ...

15 Jul 2024

Yahoo Sports

Lautaro Martinez scores an extratime winner to give Argentina a 10

Lionel Messi left the game in the second half with an apparent right leg injury.

Lautaro Martinez gave Argentina back-to-back Copa América titles and a third straight major tournament win with his extra time strike Sunday night.

Martinez scored his fifth goal of the tournament in the 112th minute for a 1-0 win over Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium. Martinez broke toward the Colombia goal and shot across the goal from the right to beat Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

Martinez’s goal came just minutes after he entered the game in the 97th minute as part of a triple substitution for Argentina. His five goals led all scorers at Copa América and three of them came after he entered the game as a substitute.

Argentina played nearly half the game without Lionel Messi because of the extra 30-minute period after a 0-0 deadlock at the end of regulation.

Messi left the game in the 65th minute after he crumpled to the ground while chasing the ball. He seemed to know right away that he was injured. It didn’t take long for the bench to ready a replacement in the form of Nicolas Gonzalez.

Messi limped off the field without a shoe on his right foot and soon slumped to his seat on the bench. Not long after he sat down, he broke down in tears, perhaps acutely aware that Sunday night’s game could be his last major tournament appearance for his home country.

The seriousness of Messi’s ankle injury became clear to viewers at home at the start of extra time when TV cameras zoomed in on the swollen joint.

Not long after Martinez scored, Angel Di Maria was subbed off for Nicolas Otamendi in the 117th minute. Sunday’s game was the final for Di Maria in an Argentina uniform and he too was in tears after leaving the pitch. After he got to the Argentina bench, Di Maria shared a hug with a smiling Messi.

The victory is the 16th Copa América title for the defending World Cup champions. Argentina won the tournament in 2021 with a 1-0 win over Brazil in what was the first major tournament win of the Messi era. A year later, Argentina took down France in penalty kicks in the World Cup Final to cap an illustrious career for a man who could be the greatest soccer player ever.

Messi didn’t retire from international duty after the World Cup and found himself playing Sunday night’s game in the same city where he currently plays his club soccer for Inter Miami. But he struggled to make much of an impact in his time on the field and was also briefly injured on a tackle in the first half.

Colombia finished the game with more possession and shots, though Argentina was the more dangerous team for much of the game. Sunday night was Colombia's third appearance in a Copa América final as it looked for its second win. Colombia lost in its first title game appearance in 1975 and won the tournament as the host country in 2001.

Game delayed and marred by security breaches

Kickoff was delayed over an hour after chaos at the gates and in the concourses at Hard Rock Stadium. Without a perimeter around the stadium, fans crowded the gates to get into the stadium hours before the game.

Many of those fans didn’t seem to have tickets and that led to terrible scenes all across the stadium. At first, tournament organizers’ solution was to close the gates to everyone. And then, not long before kickoff, the decision was made to open the gates to anyone as tickets were apparently not scanned at all.

During the game CONCACAF, North America soccer's governing body, made it clear that it didn't have anything to do with the tournament. Copa América is run by CONMEBOL, South America's governing body.

Here's how the match unfolded in real-time:

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER85 updates

FINAL score: Argentina 1-0 Colombia

112' - Lautaro Martínez finds the net with an assist from Giovani Lo Celso.

Mon, July 15, 2024 at 6:10 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 6:09 AM GMT+2

It's over. Argentina goes back-to-back in Copa America with a 1-0 win over Colombia.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:57 AM GMT+2

112' GOAL ARGENTINA
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:56 AM GMT+2

We have a goal!. It's Lautaro Martinez in the 112th minute to give Argentina the lead!
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:45 AM GMT+2

It's 0-0 through the first 15 minutes of extra time. Both teams are gassed. Will they play for penalties or will someone keep pressing for a goal>
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:42 AM GMT+2

Both teams are absolutely exhausted at the moment.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:40 AM GMT+2

Argentina has looked the more optimistic side so far in extra time.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:36 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:34 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:33 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:27 AM GMT+2

Players completely gassed. And as James’ faded (logical), Colombia’s play started to dwindle.

Juanfer Quintero was about to make his cameo before regulation whistle.

Mojica and Arias receiving muscular treatment. Colombia’s fullbacks also look like their running on last drops

— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) July 15, 2024
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:17 AM GMT+2

It's time for 30 more minutes of soccer. It's 0-0 after 90 minutes as Lionel Messi sits dejected on the Argentina bench.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:10 AM GMT+2

As we're in the 80th minute, neither team is any closer to a go-ahead goal. Could we be headed to extra time? Remember, the Copa America final does not go straight to penalty kicks.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:04 AM GMT+2

Argentina thinks it has a go-ahead goal in the 75th minute ... but it's called off for offside.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:04 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:01 AM GMT+2

Messi has given his country so much and is in absolute tears not to be on the field to provide Argentina with just one more win.

Let’s hope it’s not severe. Legend #Messi pic.twitter.com/IPkrLuH6FX

— herculez gomez (@herculezg) July 15, 2024
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:00 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:57 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:57 AM GMT+2

66' Nicolas Gonzalez replaces injured Messi
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:57 AM GMT+2

Lionel Messi is in tears on the Argentina bench.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:54 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:53 AM GMT+2

Messi crumpled to the ground chasing the ball and immediately looked to the bench. He doesn't have his shoe on his right foot and the captain's armband has come off. The night is over for Lionel Messi in the 65th minute.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:48 AM GMT+2

58' Di Maria denied again!
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:47 AM GMT+2

54' Sanchez’s header is just off
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:46 AM GMT+2

Argentina is ratcheting up the pressure on Colombia as we approach the 60th minute. Still 0-0.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:40 AM GMT+2

49' Di Maria denied!
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:38 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:37 AM GMT+2

We're back after the Shakira concert and the first best chance of the second half goes to Colombia's Santiago Arias. He flew it wide of the post on the left.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:32 AM GMT+2

Hard Rock Stadium: Gates opened to prevent fans from stampeding, per spokesperson

During halftime, stadium officials commented on the situation through a spokesperson, via USA Today's Safid Deen.

NEW statement from Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson on allowing fans to enter Copa final without tickets scanned:

“In collaboration with CONMEBOL and law enforcement officers, the decision was made to open the stadium gates for a short period of time to all fans in order to…

— Safid Deen ???????????????? (@Safid_Deen) July 15, 2024

"In collaboration with CONMEBOL and law enforcement officers, the decision was made to open the stadium gates for a short period of time to all fans in order to prevent stampedes and serious injury at the perimeter," said the statement.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:09 AM GMT+2

It's halftime and it's 0-0.

Remember, halftime is about 25 minutes tonight thanks to a Shakira concert. That could be good news for a limping Lionel Messi. His stride hasn't been right for the past 12 minutes or so.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:08 AM GMT+2

43' Arias booked
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:07 AM GMT+2

Don't look at us, say CONCACAF staff. CONMEBOL is in charge of match day operations and security.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:02 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:01 AM GMT+2

Messi is back on the field. Scare averted. He was complaining about his right ankle in a challenge that looked more painful for his left ankle.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:00 AM GMT+2

Gates finally open at Hard Rock Stadium

The gates are open at Hard Rock Stadium and the fans who couldn't get in can now gain entry. However, it's not certain that some of the people going in even have tickets at this point, as The Athletic's Felipe Cárdenas observes:

As you can see, people are just pouring into the venue.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:00 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:59 AM GMT+2

Lionel Messi is down on the ground and seems to be in some pain after he rushed to the end line in a futile attempt to get a cross off in front of a tackle by Santiago Arias.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:58 AM GMT+2

35' Messi down after a rough tackle
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:55 AM GMT+2

Colombia looks the better side through the first 33 minutes. They haven't been able to convert any chances so far, but this is far from an Argentina walkover.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:51 AM GMT+2

27' Cordoba booked
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:44 AM GMT+2

20' Messi's shot saved
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:42 AM GMT+2

The audio and video appeared to be synced back up.

By the way, it's still 0-0 in the 20th minute.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:41 AM GMT+2

Fans still attemping entry into Hard Rock Stadium

The chaos outside Hard Rock Stadium doesn't appear to be over. Video was posted to social media of fans continuing to try and get into the venue within the past half-hour, even climbing into vents to gain entry.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:35 AM GMT+2

Fox's audio appears to be about 5 seconds ahead of the visuals right now. It's very disconcerting
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:31 AM GMT+2

7' Jhon Cordoba just off target!
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:29 AM GMT+2

Whew, Colombia has been quick on its attacks through the first seven minutes. Argentina has found itself on the back foot multiple times already.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:22 AM GMT+2

After the chaos of the last few hours at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, the Copa America final is set to start. Let's go. This should be a fantastic game.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:11 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 3:08 AM GMT+2

The Univision broadcast is estimated around 7,000 extra people without tickets including the 65,000 that this stadium can fit are in the stadium. #CopaAmerica

— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) July 15, 2024