Argentina aims to clinch Copa America Group D with a win or tie over Bolivia tonight, though the nation may have already done so based on its large goal differential.
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Before the match, Martino said that his main man is “ready to go” against Panama and indeed he was not kidding.
The Group D match’s final tally came shortly after the half-hour mark when Victor Cuesta finished a feed from Lavezzi. The last meeting between these two sides in the Copa America ended 1-1 – Bolivia have never avoided defeat for two consecutive games against Argentina in this competition. Lionel Messi is healthy, and he proved it by scoring a 20-minute hat trick in a substitute appearance against Panama.
Messi has not won any major senior trophy since joining the national team in 2005 and Argentina’s last major title other than the Olympics was the 1993 Copa America.
Julio Baldivieso’s team also have a recent loss to Argentina fresh in their minds after losing 2-0 in World Cup qualifying in March.
Argentina manager Gerardo Martino brought on Messi at half-time, and a one-sided second half soon became a question of when or if the Barcelona superstar could grab a 54th global goal to equal Gabriel Batistuta’s longstanding scoring record. In the 77th minute, having been played in by a teammate but flagged offside, Messi cut the ball back between Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe’s legs, much to the delight of the masses. Chile, meanwhile, is coming off a squeaker (2-1) against Bolivia that was decided on Arturo Vidal’s penalty-kick goal in stoppage time.
“The yellow card that I have has me concerned, but either way I want to be in Tuesday’s game against Bolivia, even at the risk that if I take another card I miss the quarterfinals”, said Rojo at the prematch press conference.
Two minutes later, the score was double, as forward Ezequiel Lavezzi fired home a right footed shot from very close range, after Sergio Aguero’s header was blocked.
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How to watch online: You can catch the game for free on Fox Sports GO and Univision Deportes en vivo if you have access through your provider.
