Copa America | Argentina into semi-finals after shootout success

Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso progressed to the Copa America semi-finals after Argentina beat Ecuador on penalties in the early hours of Friday morning.

‘Cuti’ returned to the starting XI for the last-eight tie, having been an unused substitute for their final Group A fixture against Peru, and was involved throughout with Gio introduced on 78 minutes to feature in every game so far as it ended 1-1 in the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Central defender Lisandro Martinez had put the holders ahead with his first international goal on 35 minutes but, after Ecuador’s Enner Valencia saw his penalty canon off the post just after the hour mark, La Albiceleste's defence was breached for the first time in the competition when El Tri substitute Kevin Rodriguez's glancing header equalised in second-half stoppage-time.

With no extra-time at the 2024 Copa America, it went straight to a penalty shootout as Lionel Messi stepped up first from 12 yards only to see his audacious Panenka attempt hit the crossbar. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez then denied both Angel Mena and Alan Minda as Argentina converted their remaining attempts to see them prevail 4-2.

In what was Cuti's 34th and Gio's 56th cap for their nation, Lionel Scaloni’s side will now face either Venezuela or Canada on Wednesday 10 July (kick-off 1am UK) for a place in the final.