Emiliano Martinez saves Argentina after Lionel Messi misses penalty in Copa America shootout

For most of the 90 minutes of play on Thursday night, Argentina were comfortable. For more than 360 minutes of this Copa América 2024, the defending champions have not conceded a single goal.

But shortly after 10pm in Houston, they were on the brink of elimination, stunned by Ecuador and led to penalties after a Lionel Messi miss – until goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez saved the day.

Argentina led 1-0 for most of a tense match, but never dominated. And in second-half injury time, Ecuador equalized, shocking the 70,000 fans at NRG Stadium and sending the match straight to penalties.

In the penalty shootout, Messi, after a long, solitary walk from midfield to the penalty spot, fired his penalty straight into the middle of the goal, off the crossbar, and into the roof of the net.

But Martínez, the hero of the 2022 World Cup final and perhaps the world’s best penalty stopper, responded with an emphatic save from Ecuador’s first attempt.

Messi, arm in arm with teammate Cristian Romero, sent his first ball towards Martínez, as if to say a relieved “thank you.”

After Julián Álvarez scored to send Argentina into the penalty shootout, Martínez made another remarkable save, diving to his right and parrying the ball with a powerful left hand.

Martínez, who is both loved and despised for his showmanship, his games and his antics, leapt off the pitch, turned to the fans behind the goal and danced.

At that point, it was as if Ecuador had no chance. The Albiceleste had found their energy again. Alexis Mac Allister opened the score 2-0.

Ecuador then converted their next two penalties, but Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the decisive goal in Qatar 19 months ago, remained calm to give Argentina a 3-1 lead. And Nicolás Otamendi converted his penalty to ensure Argentina qualified for the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the Canada-Venezuela match on Friday.

For almost every minute of Thursday night, they looked destined for this semifinal. But they were never particularly good. Martínez kept his multi-game scoreless streak intact early in the first half with a sprawling save.

Argentina finally scored with their first shot on target. Mac Allister took a Messi corner at the near post and deflected the ball towards the far post, where Lisandro Martínez cleverly waited to head home.

Argentina’s attack, however, was unusually quiet for most of the evening. Messi, who had recovered from an injury sustained nine days earlier against Chile, was not in his usual state.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Ecuador were awarded a penalty, but Enner Valencia deflected it onto the post after sending Emi Martínez the wrong way.

The outsiders, however, held on against the defending champions and eventually got a deserved equaliser in added time.

A few minutes later, they almost put Argentina on the line with a second goal, but Jordy Caicedo’s header went wide.

The quarter-final was therefore exempted from extra time and ended on penalties, as is the case for all Copa América knockout matches before the final in the event of a tie.

But in the penalty shootout, Argentina had a gargantuan, unshakeable 6-foot-5 advantage: the man they call “Dibu,” the late-blooming goalkeeper who helped Messi conquer the world on Dec. 18, 2022, and who reproduced similar heroics Thursday night.

His ploys may not have worked, but his size and instincts devastated Ecuador and saved Argentina from the brink.

After Otamendi sealed the victory, Messi raised his right fist again. And shortly after, the Argentines were singing and dancing again.