Emiliano Martinez was Argentina’s penalty shootout hero once more as they edged out Ecuador to reach the Copa America semi-finals, despite Lionel Messi’s failed Panenka attempt.
The world champions survived a huge scare at NRG Stadium, where Kevin Rodriguez’s stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Lisandro Martinez’s first-half header to take the quarterfinal tie to penalty shootout.
Ecuador were handed a gilt-edge opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot just after the hour mark, when Rodrigo De Paul was adjudged to have handled in the box. However, they could not capitalise as Enner Valencia struck Emiliano Martinez’s right post with his spot-kick, despite sending the Argentina goalkeeper the wrong way.
It appeared La Albiceleste’s title defence was in doubt when Messi, back in the side after missing the Peru match with a hamstring injury, chipped the first penalty against the crossbar during penalty shootout as the game ended 1-1.
Nevertheless, after Messi missed in yet another Copa America shootout – famously doing so in the 2016 final defeat to Chile, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez dug his skipper out of a hole with two smart saves eventually proving the difference.
Martinez, who played starring roles from the spot during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, denied Angel Mena and Alan Minda, before Nicolas Otamendi struck the decisive kick for Lionel Scaloni’s side.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper has now faced 24 penalties for Argentina and has conceded just 12 with nine saves and three off-target misses.
Argentina, the 15-time winners of the Copa America, will face either Canada or Venezuela in the semi-finals.
