Argentina Set Up First Copa America Final With Brazil in 14 years
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Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez made miracles once again as he saved three penalties in the shootout to beat Colombia 3-2 on penalties and set up a Copa America final with Brazil.
After only seven minutes had passed, the mercurial Lionel Messi created his fifth assist of the tournament when he played in Lautaro Martinez, who slotted the ball past David Ospina.
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado began to turn up for Colombia and inspire his nation after a first half of dominance for Argentina.
The Juventus man hit both the bar and the post in the first half, which was the only major chances Colombia had in the first 45.
However, they levelled in the 61st minute when Luis Diaz received the ball on the left of Argentina's box and turned in a fabulous effort to beat the seemingly unstoppable Martinez. The game was now 1-1.
Messi and co. immediately reacted to the equaliser as they brought on Angel Di Maria in the 67th minute to replace Nico Gonzalez.
The Paris Saint-Germain star changed the game entirely as he created several chances for Argentina. In the 80th minute, Davinson Sanchez prevented an effort set up by Di Maria, as Sanchez cleared Lautaro Martinez’s shot off the line.
Soon after, Messi hit David Ospina's right post in the 81st minute from close range and the game finished 1-1 and eventually went to penalties, where Martinez became the hero.
Martinez saved the penalties from Sanchez, Yerry Mina and Edwin Cardona in the shootout, while Messi scored with his effort.
Rodrigo de Paul missed his penalty, however, but both Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martinez scored for their country in this tense shootout.
Cuadrado and Miguel Borja also bagged from the spot for Colombia, but it was not enough to send Colombia through.
Argentina have now set up their first Copa America final with fierce rivals Brazil since 2007, which the Brazilians won 3-0.
Argentina infamously haven't won a major title since 1993 when they clinched the Copa America, but with Messi in sensational form both on the creative front and goalscoring front, the all-time top scorer for his country has as good a chance as any to bag his first major international trophy.
On Monday, Brazil beat Peru 1-0 on to advance to the final and they have never lost a Copa America final at home and they have also won five out of six matches so far.
Argentina and Brazil will meet on Saturday at the famous Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, while Colombia will meet with Peru on Friday in the third-place play-off.
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