Even though it took longer than expected, Argentina defeated Ecuador in a close encounter and advanced. 

In the first half, Lisandro Martinez headed home a feed from Alexis Mac Allister to give Argentina the lead in the tense match.

For his penalty, Lionel Messi attempted a cheeky Panenka, but his effort went over and struck the bar.Following Ecuador’s missed penalty kιck, Emiliano Martinez (L) and Lisandro Martinez (R) celebrate.

But shortly before halftime, Kevin Rodriguez pulled one back for La Tri, igniting a penalty shootout. 

La Albiceleste advanced to the semifinals thanks to a game-winning penalty kιck by Nicolas Otamendi in that shootout.

They will play the victor of this Friday’s encounter between Venezuela and Canada, which Argentina has already beaten 2-0. Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina, will get one step closer to his dream of filling his elaborate trophy case with more trophies with this win.

Enner Valencia (age 13) winces in the Copa America after missing a penalty against Argentina.After handing away a penalty, Rodrigo De Paul (7) lifts his hands to plead innocence.

For the first twenty or so minutes of the match, Ecuador looked to be catching up to the tournament’s reigning winners.

Argentina took the lead from a corner after Enzo Fernandez’s shot was thwarted and crossed the goal line.

Messi’s corner was touched on by Alexis Mac Allister, who deftly played it into open space beyond the Liverpool midfielder.

Argentina took the lead 1-0 after Lisandro Martinez promptly occupied the area and headed the ball neatly into the goal.

Ecuador lead Argentina by a slim margin in expected goals (0.50-0.49) at the break, despite having less possession.

Messi, Moises Caicedo, Christian Romero, and another Argentina player struck the deck five minutes into the second half. Corpses took off. 

After a protracted pause, Lautaro Martinez made an effort to increase Argentina’s lead, but it was unsuccessful.

Ecuador had a chance when referee Andres Matonte indicated for a penalty in the 60th minute after Alan Franco was pulled down in the box by Rodrigo De Paul.

Ecuador’s 34-year-old captain Enner Valencia faced up against Argentina goalie Emi Martinez, but the Argentines’ strategies were too much for Valencia to handle. His slow-rolling shot went wide of the goaltender, but it clattered off the post. 

Martinez turned to face the audience and delivered a victorious pump of his arms, leaving Valencia shaking his head. The largely Argentinean crowd applauded him by yelling “Dibu.”

La Albiceleste, who had dominated their rivals during the first 70 minutes of play, suԀԀenly found themselves in a dominant position in the game.

Following a Messi free kιck, Ecuador began a cоunterattack, but despite two crosses, one of which went to Valencia, they were unable to manage a single effort on goal. 

After five more minutes, it appeared certain that Argentina would hold on to maintain their lead in front of throngs of fans in Houston.

Ecuador, though, struck back. After gaining a brief free kιck, La Tri was joined by a flurry of players. In desperation, Kevin Rodriguez lay his head on a cross that was sent to him. 

The ball passed over Emi Martinez’s diving body and into the net in the last seconds to bring the score even.

As soon as the game at Houston’s NRG Stadium went to penalties, everyone’s heart rates went up.