Lautaro Martinez Secures Argentina’s Quarter-Final Berth with Late Winner Against Chile

News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/27th June 2024

Argentina clinched a hard-fought victory over Chile with a late strike from substitute Lautaro Martinez, sealing their spot in the Copa America quarter-finals in a thrilling encounter at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.

Despite dominating possession early on, Argentina struggled to break the deadlock against Chile’s resilient defense and the heroic efforts of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who thwarted several scoring attempts. Lionel Messi hit the post in the first half, while Julian Alvarez and Nahuel Molina tested Bravo with powerful shots.

Chile, known for their counter-attacking prowess, also posed threats, forcing Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez into action to deny Rodrigo Echeverria’s attempts.

The decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute when Argentina capitalized on a corner kick from Messi. Lautaro Martinez reacted swiftly to the loose ball, firing past Bravo to secure the vital goal that propelled Argentina to victory.

Following the win, Argentina’s star-studded lineup had opportunities to extend their lead, with Martinez and Angel Di Maria creating dangerous chances on the counter-attack. However, Lautaro’s solitary goal proved sufficient to secure Argentina’s second consecutive victory in the tournament.

In another Copa America fixture on the same day, Canada bounced back from their opening defeat against Argentina with a 1-0 win over Peru in scorching conditions at Children’s Mercy Park Stadium, Kansas City.

Jonathan David, the standout performer for Canada, scored the lone goal of the match with a composed finish in the second half. The goal came after Peru was reduced to ten men following Miguel Araujo’s dismissal for a reckless challenge on Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg.

Despite the oppressive heat, which led to one of the assistant referees collapsing due to exhaustion, Canada maintained their composure. Shaffelburg’s precise cross-field pass found David, who clinically dispatched the ball past Peru’s goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

Peru pushed for an equalizer late in the game, but Canada’s goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau preserved their lead with a stunning save to deny Christian Cueva’s volley and Paolo Guerrero’s free-kick in injury time.

With the victory, Canada revived their campaign in the Copa America, showcasing resilience and determination under challenging circumstances.

Both Argentina and Canada now look ahead to their respective quarter-final matches, aiming to build on their recent successes and advance further in the prestigious South American tournament.