HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� Lionel Messi stepped up to take Argentina's first penalty kick in a Copa America shootout against Ecuador, just like he did in .
Only this time, Messi hit the crossbar, jeopardizing a trip to the semifinals.
鈥淚 was pretty upset," he said, 鈥渂ut at the same time I was secure.鈥�
He had confidence in goalkeeper Emiliano Mart铆nez, who saved Argentina鈥檚 bid for a second straight Copa America title.
, and Argentina advanced to the Copa America semifinals with a 4-2 victory on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw Thursday night
鈥淲e know what Dibu is capable of, that he really thrives on those moments. He really enjoys them,鈥� Messi said about Mart铆nez, using the goalkeeper's nickname.
Argentina conceded a tying goal to Ecuador in second-half injury time but rebounded and won the quarterfinal when Nicol谩s Otamendi beat Alexander Dom铆nguez with the winning kick.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 ready to go home,鈥� Mart铆nez said. 鈥淭his team deserved to advance. They complicated us a lot. They played a great match, very physical. We knew they were one of the top rivals in Copa America.鈥�
Seeking its third straight major title, Argentina advanced to the semifinals for the fifth straight Copa America and will play Venezuela or sa国际传媒 on Tuesday at East Rutherford, New Jersey.
sa国际传媒 and Venezuela square off in Friday's quarterfinal in Arlington, Texas.
Argentina is looking to win a record 16th Copa America championship.
鈥淥ur goalkeeper came up clutch," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter.
Playing in front of a pro-Argentina crowd of 69,456 at NRG Stadium, Lisandro Mart铆nez gave the Albiceleste a 35th-minute lead following Messi's corner kick. Ecuador鈥檚 Enner Valencia put a penalty kick off a post in the 62nd minute after a hand ball by Rodrigo De Paul, but Kevin Rodr铆guez tied it in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
With Argentina going first in the shootout, Messi failed on his Panenka attempt.
Mart铆nez, the goalkeeper in Argentina鈥檚 2022 World Cup final win, stopped Mena by diving to his left and batting the ball with his trailing hand. He denied Minda by leaping right, then followed the save with a short dance.
Juli谩n 脕lvarez and Alexis Mac Allister converted to put Argentina ahead 2-0, and John Yeboah made Ecuador鈥檚 third attempt.
Gonzalo Montiel gave Argentina a 3-1 lead, Jordy Caicedo converted to keep Ecuador alive and Otamendi got the winner, tucking the ball inside the post just past the outstretched arm of Dom铆nguez.
Despite the victory, Scaloni said he 鈥渄id not enjoy the win.鈥�
鈥淲e have reached the semis, and given the great level of performance of every national team, I think it鈥檚 a great achievement," he said.
Lisandro Mart铆nez had put Argentina ahead in the 35th minute with a header after Mac Allister headed on Messi鈥檚 corner kick. Rodr铆guez scored when he headed in John Yeboah鈥檚 cross.
鈥淭he quarterfinals had us playing against the most difficult opponent, and I thought we delivered well,鈥� Ecuador coach F茅lix S谩nchez Bas said through an interpreter. 鈥淲e showed this team can compete against any opponent.鈥�
Under Copa America regulations, the match went straight from the end of regulation to a shootout, without extra time.
Messi, who sustained the injury June 25 against Chile, missed Argentina鈥檚 group-stage finale. He got a loud ovation when he entered the field 45 minutes before kickoff.
鈥淚 think he finished the match well,鈥� Scaloni said. 鈥淲e asked him how he was feeling for the last time four minutes before the end."
Messi remained without a goal in three Copa games this year, but Argentina still managed to advance.
鈥淚 finished well," he said. "I didn鈥檛 feel any pain.鈥�
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