Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, missed the first kick of a penalty shoot-out, but Argentina triumphed over Ecuador in the 2024 Copa America quarter-final on Thursday night.
The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, with Lisandro Martinez scoring first for Argentina and Kevin Rodriguez equalizing for Ecuador in stoppage time.
Messi’s attempt at a panenka hit the bar, and he was consoled by Ecuadorian goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez, marking a surprising start to the shootout.
Nevertheless, Emi Martinez saved the day for Argentina, making two crucial saves to secure a 4-2 victory and a spot in the semi-finals. Argentina will face the winner of the Venezuela vs. Canada match on Tuesday evening.
