Argentina shows its grade in 2-0 win over stormy Canada in Copa America semifinal

Bosman;  -  Goals  from  Lionel Messi and  Julián  Álvarez  lifted  Argentina past Canada  at  the  top  as the star-studded South American  team  showed  off  their  mettle  with  a 2-0  victory  in the Copa  América  semifinals  on  Tuesday.
 
  Not a valid attachment ID.
  Despite the loss, the 48th-ranked Canadians did not disappoint  in  front  of  a lively crowd of 80,102 on a hot,  muggy  night at MetLife Stadium, home of the  NFL's  New York Giants and  Jets  and  headquarters  for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
 
  The  raucous  crowd was  mostly  dressed  in  Argentine  blue,  although there were  patches  of red. They saw a gutsy performance from Canada,  if  they  lacked  skill  in  finishing, and  sheer  class from Argentina, whose passing and  preparation  at  times  seemed  like  something  out of a video  game.

 
  The Canadians also  lost  2-0 to Argentina  in  their  first  match  of  the  tournament  on  June  20  in Atlanta. Argentina  beat  Canada 5-0 in their only other  meeting  in May 2010 in Buenos  Aires,  in the  Argentines'  final warm-up before the FIFA World Cup in South  Africa.
 
 
 
  Messi and the Argentines will play  No.    12 Colombia or No. 14 Uruguay, who  will  face  each  other  on  Wednesday in Charlotte,  North  Carolina  C., in  Sunday's  championship  match  at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens,  Florida.
 
  "It's  crazy  what this team has done, what the  Argentine  team is  doing,"  Messi said. "For  those who remain from the old guard,  it's  more  than  impressive that the national team is in  a  final  again.  " 
 
  Canada  travels  to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte for  Saturday's  third-place  match.
 
  Argentina showed  their  quality, content to  caress  the ball  and then  immediately  switch  gears  when  they  saw  a  gap  in  Canada's  defense.
 
  And despite a positive start, Canada fell behind in the 22nd minute  with  Argentina's  first shot on  goal.  The Canadian  defense  was  left  open by a long pass from Rodrigo De  Paul,  which  Álvarez  controlled with a  good  first touch before  beating  Moise Bombito and  slotting  a shot  between  the  legs  of  goalkeeper Max  Crepeau.

Coach Jesse Marsch and the Canadian bench were irate, believing a foul by Argentina's Nicolas Tagliafico — who steamrollered Richie Laryea as he tried to corral Crepeau's goal kick, allowing the South Americans to win possession — had been missed before the goal. Eight touches later the ball was in the Canada net.
 
  But Chilean referee Piero Maza was letting the teams play, much to Marsch's displeasure. The Canada coach eventually received a caution in the 77th minute for voicing his displeasure with the officiating.
 
  Messi made it 2-0 in the 51st minute with a slight redirect of an Enzo Fernandez shot through traffic after Canada failed to clear the ball. Canada had eight defenders in front of Crepeau in its penalty box but could not snuff out the threat.
 
  The goal survived a video review check for offside with Messi getting the green light for his first goal of the tournament and his 14th in career Copa America play. 
 
  Canada captain Alphonso Davies had to leave in the 71st minute after being injured in a hard tackle by Gonzalo Montiel that went unpunished. 
 
  There was some bad blood late in the game, with Argentina upset at Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone petulantly kicking the ball into one of their fallen players. 
 
  MetLife Stadium's temporary grass surface appeared heavy, with water splashing and sand popping up during dribbles.
 
  "It's has been a very difficult Copa America, very competitive, bad surfaces, excessive heat," Messi said.
 
  The Canadian men were looking to reach their first tournament final since the 2000 Gold Cup when they upset Colombia to win the CONCACAF crown.
 
 
 
  Canada, the last survivor of the six CONCACAF guest teams, is making its Copa debut.| The Canadian men beat No.99 Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 in a March playoff to make the 16-country field — as the 11th-ranked team at the tournament.
 
  It has been an eventful competition for the Canadian side under Marsch, the 50-year-old American who has infused his new team with youth and confidence as well as a new skipper in Davies.
 
  Crepeau has established himself as Canada's No.| 1 goalkeeper. Bombito and Derek Cornelius have become the heart of the defence while speedy winger Jacob Shaffelburg has had a breakout tournament. 
 
 
  Bombito was the victim of online racial abuse after a hard tackle on Messi in the tournament opener.| And winger Tajon Buchan broke his leg in training.
 
 
  Marsch made just one change to the starting 11 that beat Venezuela with Kone who scored the decisive penalty in the shootout after coming in on off the bench, slotting in for Jonathan Osorio.
 
  Canada looked to restrict the Argentines with its press from the get-go, coming forward with two early counterattacks that saw Shaffelburg fire shots off-target.
 
  Messi shot just wide in the 11th minute on an Argentine counterattack. And the ever-dangerous Argentina captain just missed again with a low shot late in the first half, followed by an attempted chip over Crepeau in stoppage time.
 
  Argentina 'keeper Emiliano Martinez, sporting an Argentina flag dyed into the side of his hair, was called into action in the dying seconds of the half after Jonathan David got to an Alistair Johnston long throw-in, poking the ball toward goal from close range.
For the second  consecutive  game,  Argentina kept Canada waiting  for  the  start  of  the second half. With  Canada  down 2-0, Crepeau was  again  called  upon  to stop  Alvarez.
 
  Ali Ahmed, Liam Millar, Tani Oluwaseyi, Mathieu Choiniere and Osorio  all  started  for Canada in the second half. The  substitutes  helped  drive  the  offense  as  Canada  threatened  the South Americans as  time  expired.
 
  Oluwaseyi had two good chances in the  final  minutes, with  Martínez  managing to  propel  the first shot  with  his  body  in the 89th minute. The  substitute  Canadian's  header  then  went  wide.
 
  Argentina  reached  the  semifinals  having lost just once in 18  matches  (16-1-1) since defeating France  on  penalties  in the World Cup final in December 2022.The  only  loss  in  that  streak  was a 2-0 defeat  to  Uruguay in World Cup qualifying in  November.  And  that  tie  turned into  a  penalty shootout  victory  over No.30 Ecuador last time out.
  That  didn't  stop  Canadian rapper Drake from placing a $300,000 bet on Canada to win, a wager  that  paid  him  back  $2.88 million if successful. Drake posted the  bet  slip online, as he  usually  does with his  bets.
 
  After losing to Argentina in  their  first  game  of  the  tournament,  Canada  defeated  No.31 Peru 1-0 and  drew  No.40 Chile 0-0 to finish second in Group A behind the Argentines. The Canadians then beat No.54 Venezuela  on  penalties  in the  quarterfinals.
 
  Argentina is  aiming  for  its third major  title  after the 2021 Copa  América  and the 2022 World Cup. The Argentines are tied with Uruguay for  the  most Copa  América  titles with 15.

[attachment deleted by admin]