Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was the hero for Argentina, securing their place in the Copa America semi-finals with a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Ecuador.
The match, which ended 1-1 in regular time, was decided by Martinez’s outstanding performance in the shootout.
After a tightly contested match in Houston, Argentina faced a setback when captain Lionel Messi’s chipped penalty attempt struck the crossbar, giving Ecuador an early advantage in the shootout.
However, Martinez quickly turned the tide by saving Ecuador’s first two penalties from Angel Mena and Alan Minda.
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister successfully converted their penalties for Argentina, maintaining the pressure on Ecuador.
Former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi sealed the victory with the decisive penalty, after John Yeboah had momentarily kept Ecuador’s hopes alive.
À nouveau 2 tirs au but arrêtés lors de la séance des quarts de finale de #CopaAmérica contre l’#Ecuador.
Dibu #Martinez qualifie l’#Argentina et confirme encore tout son talent dans cet exercice. Quel gardien ! 🇦🇷 🧤 #ArgentinavsEcuador #CopaAmerica #CopaAmerica2024 pic.twitter.com/DvJJ7b3VEW
— Daniel Romano (@Daniel_Rmano) July 5, 2024
Ecuador had forced the shootout with a dramatic injury-time equalizer from Kevin Rodriguez, who headed an in-swinging cross past Martinez.
Earlier, Argentina had taken the lead in the first half through Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, who scored from close range following a corner.
Despite their World Cup-winning pedigree, Argentina struggled to dominate the match. Ecuador had a golden opportunity to level the score on the hour mark, but captain Enner Valencia’s penalty hit the post after Rodrigo De Paul was penalized for handball.
Throughout the game, Martinez displayed his prowess and confidence, notably taunting Ecuador fans following his penalty saves. His record with Argentina is impressive, having faced 24 penalties and conceding just 12, with nine saves and three off-target misses.
La Panenka ratée de #Messi et les exploits de Dibu #Martinez lors de la séance des tirs au but en quarts de finale de #CopaAmerica entre l’Argentine et l’Équateur🧤⚽️ #ArgentinavsEcuador pic.twitter.com/jXxR3AopVw
— Daniel Romano (@Daniel_Rmano) July 5, 2024
With this victory, Argentina, the 15-time Copa America champions, advance to the semi-finals where they will face either Canada or Venezuela.
Following the defeat, the Ecuadorian Football Federation announced the departure of manager Felix Sanchez, despite the Spaniard having three years remaining on his contract. In their statement, they expressed gratitude for Sanchez’s efforts and professionalism, wishing him success in his future endeavors.
The win in Houston marks another chapter in Argentina’s storied Copa America history, with Martinez emerging as a key player in their quest for a 16th title.