For most of the 90 minutes on Thursday night, Argentina were comfortable. Through 360 minutes of this 2024 Copa América, the reigning champions had not conceded a single goal of any kind.
However, just after 10pm they found themselves on the brink of elimination in Houston, stunned by Ecuador and behind in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi missed – until goalkeeper Emi Martínez made the save.
Argentina led for most of a thrilling match but were never dominant. And in second-half injury time, Ecuador equalised, sending 70,000 fans in the NRG stadium into shock and sending the match straight to penalties.
During the penalty shootout, after a long, lonely walk from midfield to the spot, Messi fired the spot kick straight through the middle of the goal, off the crossbar and into the roof of the net.
But Martinez, the hero of the 2022 World Cup final and previous penalty shootouts, responded with a convincing save from Ecuador’s first attempt.
Messi, arm in arm with teammate Cristian Romero, gave Martinez a thank you fist bump.
After Julian Álvarez scored Argentina’s second try, Martinez made another remarkable save, diving to his right with a huge left hand, turning to a delighted crowd and dancing.
Alexis Mac Allister then put Argentina 2-0 up. Ecuador scored to make it 2-1. But Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the decisive goal in Qatar, kept his cool to give Argentina a convincing 3-1 lead.
And after Ecuador scored again, Nicolas Otamendi provided a relieved celebration.
