Messi rues Argentina’s failure to close match
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LIONEL Messi, who came to the Copa America looking to end Argentina’s 22-year trophy drought, was bitterly disappointed after his team was reeled in by Paraguay for a 2-2 draw in their opener.
Argentina overran Paraguay in the first half and took a two-goal lead through Sergio Aguero and Messi’s penalty only for its opponents to hit back with a goal from Nelson Haedo Valdez on the hour and Lucas Barrios’s 90th-minute equalizer.
“We were at fault in that we should have had more of the ball in the second half and controlled the match, not they,” said Messi, after Saturday’s Group B match at La Serena, Chile.
“It’s maddening to go winning 2-0 and finish with a draw,” said Messi who has come off a brilliant season helping Barcelona win a treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
“We should have slowed the match down when they were coming at us,” he told reporters. “Now we have to think about Uruguay and we know we must win. There’s a lot to improve and this is only the first match, now we’ve got to be calmer than ever.”
Holder Uruguay, which eliminated Argentina on penalties in the 2011 Copa America, will provide another tough test even if it was unconvincing in a 1-0 win over guest team Jamaica in Antofagasta on Saturday.
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