The Argentine team qualified this Friday for the third time in a row for the Copa América semifinals. They did this after beating Venezuela (0-2) in a lukewarm match played in Maracanã, which was resolved by goals from Lautaro Martínez, at the beginning, and Giovani Lo Celso, in the final section of it.
“Lionel Scalon’s football team didn’t shine”
Lionel Scaloni’s team did not shine, but it washed its image before meeting Brazil in the South American ‘super classic in the tournament semifinals. Argentina did not need the best version of Messi to win either. Still, they did bet on defensive strength and generated more football in the midfield.
Paredes and Acuña took the party’s pulse against a Venezuela that only woke up with the rare ones of Darwin Machís. The Cádiz player, who had the most apparent chance for the ‘vinotinto’, stood out for his desire even though he ended up being substituted.
Rondón also appeared with a long foul in the second half, but nothing prevented Argentina’s ticket to the semifinals. The ‘albiceleste’, who has lost two finals in a row, has the thorn stuck and wants to take it away at the eternal rival’s house and in front of the neighbour. All incentives are given for the clash next Wednesday.
Argentina took little time to find tranquillity with a goal from Lautaro Martínez, who is gaining a place at the top. The Inter Milan footballer deflected a shot from Agüero with his heel after a corner kick from Messi. The technical gesture left Fariñez frozen in his attempt to block the leather.
Opportunity from Messi and Agüero
The goal did not change the scenery, primarily due to the inaction of Venezuela when it most needed something different to question the rigidity of the visitors. On the other hand, the Argentines did not generate danger again until the second half. We can say this is thanks to an opportunity from Messi and Agüero. They ended up getting in the way between the two instead of solving and leaving the crash scene for sentence.
Lo Celso did it with a quarter of an hour to go. The Betis midfielder took advantage of a massive error by the Venezuelan goalkeeper, who could not catch a meek shot from Agüero. Lo Celso only had to push the ball to the bottom of the net to sentence his rival and request an appointment from Brazil to fight before the final. The third in a row for Argentina, the fifth in the last six editions of the Copa América.
