Copa America 2021: Emiliano Martinez’s heroics help Argentina edge Colombia on penalties, set up final with Brazil-Sports News , Firstpost

Argentina won their semi-final against Colombia 3-2 on penalties after three saves by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Regular time ended 1-1 at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on Tuesday. AP

Brasilia: It will be Lionel Messi’s Argentina against Neymar’s Brazil in the Copa America final on Saturday at the historic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Argentina won their semi-final against Colombia 3-2 on penalties after three saves by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Regular time ended 1-1 at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on Tuesday.

“Dibu is a phenomenon. We trusted him,” Messi said after the match, in a reference to Martinez’ nickname. “It was an objective to play all the matches and now we will try to win this final.”

Argentina haven’t captured a major title since 1993 when they won Copa America. On that occasion, the team eliminated Colombia on penalties 6-5 in the semi-final after a goalless draw.

Brazil beat Peru 1-0 on Monday to advance to the final. The Selecao have never lost a Copa America final at home and have won five out of six matches so far. Neymar said after the semi-final he wanted to meet his Barcelona mentor Messi at the decider.

“Both of us are in the final, I know Neymar said it because we are friends and he wanted me to be there too,” Messi said. “It will surely be very close and difficult. We are aiming high, we managed to get the first objective of playing the final, playing all matches. Now we are aiming higher than ever, we are going to seek that Copa.”

It took Argentina only seven minutes to open the scoring. Rodrigo de Paul found Messi in the penalty box with a through pass. The star earned his fifth assist in the tournament with a pass to Lautaro Martinez, who put the ball in the right corner past Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina.

A more aggressive Colombia, led by Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, hit the bar and the post in the first half before it leveled in the 61st minute with Luis Diaz, who received the ball on the left of Argentina’s box shot almost with no angle to beat Martinez.

Argentina reacted after 67 minutes when Ángel di María came into the match, replacing Nico González. The winger created several opportunities including one in the 80th minute that ended with Davinson Sanchez saving a finish by Lautaro Martinez on the goal line.

The last big opportunity in regular time came with Messi hitting Ospina’s right post in 81st minute from short range.

Martinez saved the shots taken by Sanchez, Yerry Mina and Edwin Cardona in the shootout. Messi converted his opportunity from the spot and was one of the most joyous players in the celebrations. He seeks his first major title with Argentina against favorites Brazil.

Rodrigo de Paul missed his shot, but Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martinez netted their chances for Argentina in the shootout. Cuadrado and Miguel Borja scored from the spot for Colombia.

In tears, Martinez said after the match he wanted to face the Brazilians in the final in the Maracana Stadium.

“This is a matter of luck, today it was mine. Brazil is a great team, the favorite,” Martinez said. “But we have a great coach, we have the best player in the world and we will try to win it,” he said.

“We have nothing to regret,” Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda said. He had also reached the semi-final with Chile in 2019 and lost. “Now we have to wait for soccer to give our effort back so we can give some joy to the Colombian people some other time.”

Argentina and Colombia were the original hosts of Copa America, which was shifted to Brazil two weeks before kick off.

Colombia will play on Friday in the third-place playoff against Peru.