EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Lionel Messi and Argentina moved inside one win of becoming a member of Spain as the one nations to win three straight main titles.
“It’s insane what this workforce has accomplished, what the Argentina nationwide workforce is doing,” Messi stated Tuesday evening after his 109th worldwide aim sealed a 2-0 victory over Canada that earned a berth on this weekend’s Copa America last. “For many who stay from the outdated guard, it’s past spectacular that the nationwide workforce is in one other last.”
Julián Álvarez put the Albiceleste forward within the twenty second minute, controlling an extended go from Rodrigo De Paul, taking two touches to get away from Moïse Bombito and slipping the ball by means of the legs of goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau for his ninth worldwide aim.
Messi redirected Enzo Fernández’s shot following a poor Ismaël Koné clearance in off the face of Crépeau from 4 yards within the 51st for his first aim of the event. Messi has 28 targets in his final 25 matches for Argentina and 14 in Copa America play, three shy of the report. He has scored towards 38 totally different nations.
“I wasn’t positive if Enzo’s ball was going to get in,” Messi stated. “It was a reflex.”
Solely Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo with 130 has extra worldwide targets than Messi, who turned 37 on June 24. Iran’s Ali Daei had 108 or 109 from 1993 to 2006, with a lingering dispute over whether or not a aim towards Ecuador in 2000 occurred in a full worldwide match.
With a victory on its independence day, Argentina prolonged its unbeaten streak to 10 video games. The Albiceleste search a report sixteenth Copa title once they play Uruguay or Colombia on Sunday at Miami Gardens, Florida.
“We now have to take pleasure in each second of what we’re live,” Messi stated. “I’m aware that these are the final battles.”
Attempting to string collectively Copa America titles across the 2022 World Cup championship, Argentina hopes to match Spain’s feat of successful the 2008 and 2012 European Championships together with the 2010 World Cup.
“These are statistics. I’m not likely about it,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stated by means of a translator. “Crucial factor is to win.”
Making his thirty eighth Copa America look, Messi had missed Argentina’s group stage finale with a leg harm and was subdued whereas enjoying 90 minutes within the quarterfinal win over Ecuador. He was rather more agile and shot simply broad within the twelfth and forty fourth minutes.
Messi had 45 touches and a 79% go success price.
“They make us pay on small particulars,” Crépeau stated.
MetLife’s short-term grass floor appeared heavy, with water splashing and sand popping up throughout dribbles.
“It’s has been a really tough Copa América,” Messi stated, “very aggressive, unhealthy surfaces, extreme warmth.”
Argentina followers gathered in Instances Sq. on the eve of the match and stuffed the streets on Manhattan earlier than heading to MetLife Stadium. The group of 80,102 on an evening with an 82-degree temperature and 82% humidity was overwhelmingly pro-Argentina, with only some sections dominated by red-clad Canadian supporters.
It was among the many largest video games for Canadian soccer, which went 0-6 in its solely World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022 and received its solely main title on the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Argentina had crushed Canada 2-0 within the event opener on June 20.
“The event caught up with us somewhat bit,” Canada coach Jesse Marsch stated. “There’s been warmth, there’s been journey, there’s been a whole lot of challenges. … We’re nonetheless on the beginnings of our course of, proper? Argentina’s possibly had eight years collectively, seven years along with this workforce, and so we have to develop extra gamers that may contribute in order that we are able to additionally rotate in event play, as a result of ultimately the physicality and the fatigue can meet up with you.”
Canada star Alphonso Davies limped off within the 71st minute after his proper leg was caught in a clear problem with Gonzalo Montiel.
“He’s getting an X-ray, so we’re hopeful he’s OK, however we’re undecided,” Marsch stated.
Canada had two pictures heading in the right direction: Jonathan David was thwarted by Emiliano Martínez from shut vary in first-half stoppage time, and Martínez made a kick save on Tani Oluwaseyi within the 89th.
“We began getting sloppy. We began getting away from the sport plan,” stated defender Derek Cornelius, who exchanged jerseys with Messi.
Whereas Messi referred to “final battles,” Scaloni and followers maintain out hope Argentina and Messi will return to MetLife for the 2026 World Cup last.
“We’ll by no means be those to shut the door,” Scaloni stated. “He may be with our workforce for so long as he needs to be.”
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AP Copa America protection: https://apnews.com/hub/copa-america