Messi and his teammates start their quest to secure Argentina’s first championship since 1993 with a Copa America Centenario quarterfinal tie against Venezuela at Gillette Stadium tonight (7, FX).
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Argentina, which will meet the U.S.in a semifinal match at NRG Stadium in Houston Tuesday, remained the only team with a ideal record in the tournament.
Argentina took control early against Venezuela, scoring in the eighth minute when Messi, shaking off a back injury, lofted the ball into the penalty area amd Gonzalo Higuain scored. “Plays for Barcelona, which is one of the best club teams in the world, plays here for Argentina in his nation, and he’s just an exciting player and that’s what people want to see”.
Messi made it 3-0 when he took a pass from Nicolas Gaitan just outside the 6-yard box.
Messi grabbed goal of his own after an hour with a speedy breakaway and though Salomon Rondon snatched a consolation goal with 20 minutes left, substitute Erik Lamela rounded off scoring by finishing another Messi assist a minute later. Argentina will be minus midfielder Angel di Maria, who tore an adductor against Panama.
The victor of the match between Venezuela and Argentina will play the United States in the semifinals. “Otherwise I would have stayed home watching this tournament on TV”, he said late on Friday, adding that he had never been to Boston – or north of Miami, for that matter. “We have prepared well, and even though we are playing a hard rival, we don’t feel like we’re below anyone”, he said.
The 28-year-old has apparently recovered from his setbacks and is good to go from the start on Saturday, reports from his camp are saying.
Napoli forward Higuain still had plenty to do but skillfully directed a first time strike past Venezuela goalkeeper Dani Hernandez for a wonderful goal.
Messi is staking his claim for the title while leading Argentina in the Copa America. Lionel Messi scored his fourth goal of the tournament (current Golden Boot leader for the Copa).
But overall Dudamel was pleased with Venezuela’s performance in a tournament that included wins over Jamaica and Uruguay and a draw with Mexico. We have already been working together for a while and have got to know the coaching staff, and they us. Fortunately for Venezuela that win came in 2011, but the rest of the matches between these sides do the Vinotinto no favors.
He said: “We are aware there is no margin for error. It allowed us to show how capable our players really are”, he said.
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