Argentina beat Ecuador, into Semis of Copa America

Lionel Messi is determined to win a title with Argentina, like never before.

The captain scored from a free kick and gave two assists on Saturday, for the 3-0 win over Ecuador, which will allow Argentina to play the Copa América semifinal for the fourth consecutive edition. He will face Colombia on Tuesday in Brasilia.

Rodrigo De Paul opened the account at 39 minutes, Lautaro Martínez extended at 84, and Messi made the third at 90 at the Olympic stadium in the city of Goiania for the quarterfinals of the contest.

The Albiceleste, which seeks to break a 28-year streak without titles, went to rest with the minimum advantage after a first half in which it had the clearest chances, but could also pay dearly for some defensive imbalances that exposed the intelligent approach of the Argentine coach from Ecuador, Gustavo Alfaro.

"The truth was that it was a very tough game, we knew how difficult Ecuador was, which is a hard-working team ... And it was fought until we found the goal," said Messi.

Until Messi, who in the last week was released from Barcelona and still did not define his future, saw a gap between the rival centrals and left only Nicolás González facing the goal. The goalkeeper Galíndez came out to cut and took the Argentine ahead.

The ball was left to Messi again, who saw De Paul at the penalty spot, where he directed his accurate pass. The Udinese midfielder from Italy stopped the ball and defined from the right.

Ecuador, which never beat Argentina in 16 Copa América crosses, attacked its rival on both wings and forced errors on the Argentine last line. Captain Enner Valencia overflowed on the right and touched the middle for Jhegson Méndez, who hit him first with the instep and forced goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to a great effort to avoid the fall.

Then, in an advance to the left, Martínez came out to cut a center and passed by. Valencia combed it to the goal, but the ball was deflected.

As has become customary in the tournament, Argentina has the tendency to give up the lead in the second half as if it felt the wear and tear to which it submits its rivals in the early part. In the most anxious passages, the goalkeeper Martínez gave the size.

At 57 minutes Valencia forced the Aston Villa goalkeeper again, who sent her to the corner kick.

At the worst moment, Messi appeared again to calm down. The star recovered the ball in the rival field and touched one for Martínez, who settled the lawsuit.

And in the epilogue, Messi executed a formidable left-handed free kick that closed the Argentine victory. It was his 76th goal for Argentina and he was one short of equaling Pelé's record as the top scorer for a South American team.

"The individual awards are secondary, we are here for something else, to congratulate the group for the work they are doing," emphasized the star.