Agustin Markarian / Reuters
Argentina beat Ecuador on penalties to advance to the semi-finals.
CNN
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Goalkeeper Amy Martinez was the hero. Argentina as a Albicelete reached America’s Cup In the semi-finals, they beat Ecuador 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
In the game in Houston, Texas, Argentina took the lead when Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez headed in a corner kick in the 35th minute.
But Ecuador equalized in stoppage time when Kevin Rodriguez headed in John Yeboha’s cross.
The three He then had a wonderful chance to win the match minutes later, but Jordi Caicedo headed it wide.
With no extra time added, the game went straight to penalty kicks and Lionel Messi’s first attempt at the penalty spot was unsuccessful.
However, Martinez saved two Ecuador penalties from Angel Mena and Alan Minda as Argentina made it four to save Messi’s strike and see the team beat Venezuela and Canada in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Martinez, who developed his reputation as a penalty kick specialist, showed off his trademark dance after brilliantly saving Mindawan’s spot-kick.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper faced 24 penalties in Argentina and saved just 12 of them, 9 of which were BBC’s.
Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
Lionel Messi missed a free kick in the match.
“I will work to do this,” Martinez told the Argentine Football Association after the game. “I bowl 500 times in one training session. We always have to give our best. The crowd deserves it.
“They made things very difficult for us. They played a great game, very physical. We knew they were going to be one of the toughest rivals in the cup, but I wasn’t ready to go home. This team deserves to continue.
“These special times to be with our people, [a stadium] Full of Argentines. We did not play the game that the people wanted to see. Fortunately, we won.