Argentina earns 2-0 win over gutsy Canada in Copa America semifinal

Goals by Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez lifted top-ranked Argentina past Canada arsenic nan star-studded South American broadside showed its pedigree successful a 2-0 triumph successful nan Copa America semifinal connected Tuesday.

Despite nan loss, nan 48th-ranked Canadians did not disappoint earlier a lively crowd of 80,102 connected a hot, humid nighttime astatine MetLife Stadium, location of nan NFL’s New York Giants and Jets, arsenic good arsenic nan venue for nan 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The large crowd was mostly clad successful Argentina bluish though location were pockets of red. They saw a gutsy capacity from Canada, albeit 1 lacking successful objective finishing, and axenic people from Argentina, whose passing and buildup were consecutive retired of a video crippled astatine times.

The Canadians besides fell 2-0 to Argentina erstwhile they met successful nan June 20th tourney opener successful Atlanta. Argentina thumped Canada 5-0 successful their only different meeting, successful May 2010 successful Buenos Aires successful nan Argentines’ last warm-up earlier nan FIFA World Cup successful South Africa.

Messi and nan Argentines will play either No. 12 Colombia aliases No. 14 Uruguay, who meet Wednesday successful Charlotte, N.C., successful Sunday’s title crippled astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Fla.

“It’s insane what this squad has done, what nan Argentina nationalist squad is doing,” Messi said. “For those who stay from nan aged guard, it’s beyond awesome that nan nationalist squad is successful different final.”

Canada heads to Bank of America Stadium successful Charlotte for Saturday’s third-place game.

“If we want to beryllium a federation that gains ranking spots and beryllium fresh for ’26, we sewage to excavation deeper than that coming moreover though we springiness a bully effort,” said Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. “Even though they are nan world champions, everybody connected nan section feels for illustration we could person done better.

” … We request to regroup and spell for 3rd place.”

Argentina showed its quality, contented to changeable nan shot astir and past alteration gears successful an instant erstwhile it saw an opening successful Canada’s defence.

And contempt a affirmative start, Canada fell down successful nan 22nd infinitesimal connected Argentina’s first changeable connected target. The Canadian defence was carved unfastened by a agelong walk from Rodrigo De Paul that Alvarez controlled pinch a good first touch earlier outmuscling Moise Bombito and slipping a changeable done Crepeau’s legs.

Coach Jesse Marsch and nan Canadian chair were irate, believing a foul by Argentina’s Nicolás Tagliafico — who steamrollered Richie Laryea arsenic he tried to corral Crepeau’s extremity kick, allowing nan South Americans to triumph possession — had been missed earlier nan goal. Eight touches later nan shot was successful nan Canada net.

But Chilean referee Piero Maza was letting nan teams play, overmuch to Marsch’s displeasure. The Canada coach yet received a be aware successful nan 77th infinitesimal for voicing his displeasure pinch nan officiating.

Messi made it 2-0 successful nan 51st infinitesimal pinch a flimsy redirect of an Enzo Fernandez changeable done postulation aft Canada grounded to clear nan ball. Canada had 8 defenders successful beforehand of Crepeau successful its punishment container but could not snuff retired nan threat.

The extremity survived a video reappraisal cheque for offside pinch Messi getting nan greenish ray for his first extremity of nan tourney and his 14th successful profession Copa America play.

Canada skipper Alphonso Davies had to time off successful nan 71st infinitesimal aft being injured successful a difficult situation by Gonzalo Montiel that went unpunished.

There was immoderate bad humor precocious successful nan game, pinch Argentina upset astatine Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone petulantly kicking nan shot into 1 of their fallen players.

MetLife Stadium’s impermanent writer aboveground appeared heavy, pinch h2o splashing and soil popping up during dribbles.

“It’s has been a very difficult Copa America, very competitive, bad surfaces, excessive heat,” Messi said.

The Canadian men were looking to scope their first tourney last since nan 2000 Gold Cup erstwhile they upset Colombia to triumph nan CONCACAF crown.

Canada, nan past subsister of nan six CONCACAF impermanent teams, is making its Copa debut. The Canadian men hit No. 99 Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 successful a March playoff to make nan 16-country section — arsenic nan 11th-ranked squad astatine nan tournament.

It has been an eventful title for nan Canadian broadside nether Marsch, nan 50-year-old American who has infused his caller squad pinch younker and assurance arsenic good arsenic a caller skipper successful Davies.

“The tourney caught up pinch america a small bit,” said Marsch aft nan semifinal setback. “There’s been heat, there’s been travel, there’s been a batch of challenges. … We’re still astatine nan beginnings of our process, right?

“Argentina’s possibly had 8 years together, 7 years together pinch this team, and truthful we request to create much players that tin lend truthful that we tin besides rotate successful tourney play, because yet nan physicality and nan fatigue tin drawback up pinch you.”

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Crepeau has established himself arsenic Canada’s No. 1 goalkeeper. Bombito and Derek Cornelius person go nan bosom of nan defence while speedy winger Jacob Shaffelburg has had a breakout tournament.

There person been challenges.

Bombito was nan unfortunate of online group abuse aft a difficult tackle connected Messi successful nan tourney opener. And winger Tajon Buchanan collapsed his limb successful training.

Marsch made conscionable 1 alteration to nan starting 11 that hit Venezuela pinch Kone who scored nan decisive punishment successful nan shootout aft coming successful connected disconnected nan bench, slotting successful for Jonathan Osorio.

Canada looked to restrict nan Argentines pinch its property from nan get-go, coming guardant pinch 2 early counterattacks that saw Shaffelburg occurrence shots off-target.

Messi changeable conscionable wide successful nan 11th infinitesimal connected an Argentine counterattack. And nan ever-dangerous Argentina skipper conscionable missed again pinch a debased changeable precocious successful nan first half, followed by an attempted spot complete Crepeau successful stoppage time.

Argentina ‘keeper Emiliano Martínez, sporting an Argentina emblem dyed into nan broadside of his hair, was called into action successful nan dying seconds of nan half aft Jonathan David sewage to an Alistair Johnston agelong throw-in, poking nan shot toward extremity from adjacent range.

For nan 2nd crippled successful a row, Argentina kept Canada waiting to commencement nan 2nd half. After Canada went down 2-0, Crepeau was called into action again to extremity Alvarez.

Ali Ahmed, Liam Millar, Tani Oluwaseyi, Mathieu Choiniere and Osorio came connected for Canada successful nan 2nd half. The subs helped spark nan offence pinch Canada threatening nan South Americans arsenic nan timepiece coiled down.

Oluwaseyi had 2 bully chances successful nan dying minutes, pinch an acrobatic Martinez managing to get his assemblage successful beforehand of nan first changeable successful nan 89th minute. The Canadian sub past saw his header conscionable spell wide.

Argentina came into nan semifinal having mislaid conscionable erstwhile successful 18 games (16-1-1) since defeating France via punishment shootout successful nan World Cup last successful December 2022. The 1 nonaccomplishment during that tally was a 2-0 conclusion astatine nan hands of Uruguay successful World Cup qualifying successful November. And nan tie turned into nan punishment shootout triumph complete No. 30 Ecuador past clip out.

That didn’t deter Canadian rapper Drake from placing a $300,000 stake connected Canada to win, a wager returning $2.88 cardinal if successful. Drake posted nan betting gaffe online, arsenic he often does pinch his wagers.

After losing to Argentina successful nan tourney opener, Canada hit No. 31 Peru 1-0 and tied No. 40 Chile 0-0 to decorativeness 2nd successful Group A down nan Argentines. The Canadians past hit No. 54 Venezuela successful a punishment shootout successful nan quarterfinal.

Argentina is seeking its 3rd awesome crown aft nan 2021 Copa America and nan 2022 World Cup. The Argentines are tied pinch Uruguay for astir Copa America titles pinch 15.

Update connected Davies

When asked astir Davies leaving nan crippled aft hurting his correct limb successful a situation pinch Montiel, Marsch said: “He’s getting an X-ray, truthful we’re hopeful he’s OK, but we’re not sure.”