Argentina vs Ecuador Copa America 2024 Quarter-finals Highlights | Argentina are through to semi-finals after a 4-2 win on penalties

Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's LIVE coverage of the Argentina vs Ecuador quarter-final match of the Copa America 2024 at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. 

This is Koushik Biswas, who will be bringing you all the updates, scores, news and photos of the match LIVE from the web desk. Argentina are coming off a great group stage and even showed their squad depth without their leader Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Ecuador, after a good show in Group B, will also be confident about creating an upset in the tournament.

So, hold on to your breath as we bring you all the latest on the match.

Meantime, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates as well. 

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Jul 05, 2024 09:23 IST
RESPECT
An incredible gesture of respect from Emi Martinez 🧤🇦🇷

While his team celebrates, he consoles Ecuador's Alexander Domínguez. The goalkeepers union ❤️#CA2024 pic.twitter.com/BsBsbyAzc5
— M I N I S T E R™💙🇦🇷🇪🇸🇩🇪🇧🇪 (@MphartyNyanga) July 5, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 09:08 IST
The best in the world?

 
Argentina have now won four straight penalty shootouts since Emi Martinez became their first-choice goalkeeper:
• 2021 Copa America semifinal vs Colombia
• 2022 World Cup quarterfinal vs Netherlands
• 2022 World Cup final vs France
• 2024 Copa America quarterfinal vs Ecuador



Jul 05, 2024 09:07 IST
Martinez after the penalties

 
"They made it very difficult for us. They played a great game, very physical. We knew they were going to be one of the toughest opponents in the cup.
"I wasn't ready to go home. This group deserved to go on.
"I work to do this. I dive 500 times per training session. We have to give our best because the people deserve it."



Jul 05, 2024 09:01 IST
Sheer confidence
🚨🗣️Emiliano Martinez after the game :

“After Messi missed the first penalty kick, I told the fans that we are not going home yet” pic.twitter.com/hszyccPpvk
— Ca Va? 🐐 (@psg__chief) July 5, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 09:00 IST
Insane record for Dibu
🇦🇷 Emiliano Dibu Martínez, Argentina’s hero once again.

◉ 24 total penalties with the national team.

◉ 12 goals conceded, exactly 50% percentage.

◉ 9 saved, 2 off target, 1 hitting woodwork.

Legendary performance again tonight. 🇦🇷@LisandrMartinez @CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/UVqQqkj1oD
— Fortune (@Fortune30213286) July 5, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 08:42 IST
Argentina are into the semi-finals for a consecutive fifth edition.
The defending champions are into the semis for a straight fifth edition. They beat Ecuador on penalties by 4-2 after the game ended in a draw.
𝐀𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐚 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 😎

They beat Ecuador by 4-2 in the penalties despite Lionel Messi missing the penalty for them! 😲#CopaAmérica #CopaAmerica2024 #LionelMessi pic.twitter.com/MapdwlLnaT
— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) July 5, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 08:33 IST
Penalties
• Lionel Messi (Argentina) fails to convert his penalty! ARG 0-0 ECU
• Angel Mena (Ecuador) misses! ARG 0-0 ECU
• Julian Alvarez (Argentina) scores! ARG 1-0 ECU
• Alan Minda (Ecuador) misses! ARG 1-0 ECU
• Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) scores from the penalty spot. ARG 2-0 ECU
• John Yeboah (Ecuador) scores! ARG 2-1 ECU
• Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina) scores! ARG 3-1 ECU
• Jordy Caicedo (Ecuador) scores! ARG 3-2 ECU
• Nicolas Otamendi (Argentina) converts his penalty! ARG 4-2 ECU



Jul 05, 2024 08:29 IST
Into the penalties
It is 1-1 after full time and somehow, some way, we're headed to penalties!



Jul 05, 2024 08:25 IST
THAT GOAL
Ecuador equalise in added time, throughly deserved.

Pathetic performance from Argentina, this. pic.twitter.com/5xHpXChyLq
— Faiz Fazel (@theFaizFazel) July 5, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 08:22 IST
90+1' | Goal by Kevin Rodriguez | ARG 1-1 ECU

 
Wait, what? Are we going to penalties? Kevin Rodriguez scores a terrific header for Ecuador and it is all equal in Texas. Argentina 1-1 Ecaudor. John Yeboah with a quick free-kick that resulted in a goal for them.



Jul 05, 2024 08:20 IST
69,456 fans at the ground




Jul 05, 2024 08:17 IST
87' | Fifth change for Ecuador
Jordy Caicedo replaces Alan Franco.



Jul 05, 2024 08:14 IST
Record for Messi

 
Lionel Messi, the most capped player in Copa America's history, is now the record holder for most minutes played in the tournament history.



Jul 05, 2024 08:12 IST
81' | Yellow card

 
Yellow card for Nicolas Tagliafico.



Jul 05, 2024 08:11 IST
80' | Double change for Ecuador
Angel Mena and John Yeboah replace Enner Valencia and Carlos Gruezo.



Jul 05, 2024 08:08 IST
78' | Change for Argentina
Scaloni makes his first change as Giovani Lo Celso replace Enzo Fernandez. Otamendi comes in for Lisandro.



Jul 05, 2024 08:07 IST
77' | Yellow card
Nicolas Gonzalez recieves a yellow card for a foul.



Jul 05, 2024 08:06 IST
75' | Yellow card
Yellow card for Moises Caicedo.



Jul 05, 2024 08:04 IST
Tough
🇪🇨 Enner Valencia told media that Ecuador's Copa América Quarter-Final game against Argentina was the most important game of his career...

He just missed the penalty to draw his side level 😬 pic.twitter.com/GETPxA9uBU
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) July 5, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 08:03 IST
68' | Messi goes off-target
A chance for Lionel Messi to be on the scoresheet for the first time in the tournament. However, he misses his target this time.



Jul 05, 2024 07:58 IST
65' | Change for Argentina
Julian Alvarez replaces Lautaro Martinez.



Jul 05, 2024 07:55 IST
62' | Valencia misses the penalty

 
That is a very very poor penalty taken by the Ecuador captain. He hits the post. He did not even connect the ball properly.



Jul 05, 2024 07:54 IST
60' | Handball by De Paul | Penalty to Ecuador




Jul 05, 2024 07:45 IST
55' | Lautaro Martinez misses the target
His first shot of the day and the top scorer of this edition misses his target. Emi Martinez with the excellent goal kick to find Lautaro on the run before he misfired the ball wide.



Jul 05, 2024 07:43 IST
53' | Cristian Romero is injured
Cristian Romero is injured and looks in serious pain after a tussle with Caicedo. 



Jul 05, 2024 07:35 IST
46' | The second half starts
The second half of the match starts!



Jul 05, 2024 07:27 IST
That goal from Martinez
Another look at that set piece from Argentina for the lead 🇦🇷🤩 pic.twitter.com/qkkBTAipPu
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 5, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 07:21 IST
Half-time | Argentina 1-0 Ecuador
First half is done and Argentina leave the field with a 1-0 lead. Lisandro Martinez with his first international goal to give him the lead from a Lionel Messi corner. Ecuador, who had a great start to the game, could not keep up with the speed and quality of the defending champions.



Jul 05, 2024 07:19 IST
45' | Two minutes added
Two minutes added as injury time in the first half!



Jul 05, 2024 07:17 IST
43' | Foul by Valencia
Already on a yellow, Valencia is living by the sword here. He elbows De Paul down and the Argentine midfielder is down with the referee having a word with him.



Jul 05, 2024 07:09 IST
36' | Licha scores | ARG 1-0 ECU

 
Lisandro Martinez scores for Argentina. Messi with the corner and Mac Allister gets the ball to the far post as Lisandro Martinez heads the ball inside the goal. Dominguez had a touch on the ball, but it was already in. Argentina take the lead.



Jul 05, 2024 07:06 IST
34' | Enzo misses another chances
Enzo upon receiving the ball from Messi in the middle had a great run before getting the blocked by one of the defenders.



Jul 05, 2024 07:02 IST
29' | Yellow card

 
Yellow card for Valencia for a foul on Mac Allister.



Jul 05, 2024 07:00 IST
27' | Enzo goes off target
Enzo with Argentina's first big chance as he jumps high to get the header. But his header goes over the the goal. 



Jul 05, 2024 06:59 IST
26' | No impact from Messi yet




Jul 05, 2024 06:55 IST
20' | "Si se puede"
"Si se puede" chants Ecuador fans. It means "it is possible" as Argentina have started the first twenty minutes a bit shaky!



Jul 05, 2024 06:49 IST
15' | Martinez makes an early save
Great save from the big man! Caicedo with a great run on the left before making a cutback to Sarmiento. However, his first touch was a tad big and Martinez was able to come out and cut the angle down. He sticks his left out and makes a great save.



Jul 05, 2024 06:45 IST
10' | Nothing to note yet
Both teams have been playing among themselves but no chances for either team. Nothing has happened yet to note.



Jul 05, 2024 06:41 IST
7' | Ecuador looking good
Not pressing that high, but Ecuador surely looking to press high with Caicedo playing at higher than normal.



Jul 05, 2024 06:33 IST
Kick-off
The quarter-final is underaway



Jul 05, 2024 06:28 IST
Will this happen tonight?
Again ? 🇦🇷💙pic.twitter.com/0yimwLJgPS
— L A M (@AhIiFc) July 5, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 06:22 IST
Cute moments during the warmups
Messi waves to his family in the stands during warmups ❤️😍#CopaAmérica #EURO2024 https://t.co/qxYnECcoAK
— Mahesh kumar (@Maheshm59436396) July 5, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 06:18 IST
History for Kendry Páez

 
At 17 years and 61 days old, Kendry Páez is now the youngest player in Copa América history to appear in a quarterfinal. 



Jul 05, 2024 06:06 IST
Messi and family in the house
Argentinian fans are desperate to get a look at Messi's wife, Antonela and kids 📸🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/lHxWX3Lqad
— LiveScore (@livescore) July 4, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 06:05 IST
They are here too
Ecuador 🇪🇨 fans at NRG for the #CopaAmérica2024 quarter final against Argentina pic.twitter.com/kPJtKuzAK6
— sammbonu (@Sammbonu) July 4, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 06:05 IST
Checked In
🚨 The GOAT has arrived 🐐🇦🇷#CopaAmérica | #ArgentinavsEcuador pic.twitter.com/zgDPWIhCJe
— Ca Va? 🐐 (@psg__chief) July 4, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 06:03 IST
They are here
The Argentina national team locker room. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/m5lLsXkkWZ
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) July 4, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 06:03 IST
He is everywhere
Absolute Messi Mania in Houston @nrgpark for @CopaAmerica @Argentina @FEFecuador ! #SoccerMatters pic.twitter.com/JqFZVzHHU7
— Glenn Davis (@GlennDavisSoc) July 4, 2024



Jul 05, 2024 05:51 IST
Team News: Ecuador Line Up
Lineup: Dominguez, Hincapie, Pacho, Torres, Preciado, Gruezo, Sarmiento, M. Caicedo, Franco, Paez, Valencia
Subs: Hurtado, Rodriguez, Mena, Minda, Yeboah, Micolta, Cifuentes, Ortiz, Galindez, Loor, Ramirez, Corozo, Ordonez, J. Caicedo, Porozo



Jul 05, 2024 05:50 IST
Team News: Messi fit to play

 
Argentina Lineup: E. Martinez, Tagliafico, Li. Martinez, Romero, Molina, Gonzalez, Fernandez, Mac Allister, De Paul, La. Martinez, Messi
Subs: Montiel, Acuna, Lo Celso, Di Maria, Alvarez, Palacios, Pezzella, Otamendi, Garnacho, Martinez Quarta, Rulli, Carboni, Paredes, Rodriguez, Armani