Messi salvages point for Argentina
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A Lionel Messi penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw for Argentina against Paraguay on Wednesday as the two-time world champion once again struggled at the Copa America.
Messi swept in a 57th-minute spot-kick at Belo Horizonte’s Mineirao Stadium to cancel out a first-half opener from Paraguay’s Richard Sanchez.
Argentina also had goalkeeper Franco Armani to thank for a second-half penalty save that prevented Paraguay from taking a 2-1 lead in the Group B battle. The draw left Argentina with one point from two games and on the bottom of the table with one game remaining.
However, with the two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinal, Argentina can still reach the last eight with a decisive win over Qatar in their final group game.
“We have to win,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said of his team’s date with Qatar.
“We will take stock of what we did well and what we did not do well and we will make decisions. We are lucky that we are still alive in this tournament.
“We trust Franco. He is our starting goalkeeper. He saved a penalty and kept us alive. I’m glad he had a good performance.”
The South American giant will need to raise their game, however, to advance any further after another disjointed performance which followed their opening defeat to Colombia on Saturday.
Duvan Zapata scored for the second match running to send Colombia into the Copa America quarterfinal with a late header to beat Qatar 1-0 on Wednesday. Carlos Queiroz’s team became the first side into the knock-out rounds after following up Saturday’s 2-0 win over Argentina with another victory over the dogged Asian champion.
It was a deserved success but one that had looked likely to elude the 2001 champion as they toiled against a Qatar side that defended stoically and held on grimly for more than 85 minutes.
“It was difficult, but we showed patience and mustered the winning goal,” said Zapata, who insisted Colombia wouldn’t be taking things easy in their final group match against Paraguay on Sunday.
“The win was paramount and we leave happy.
“We hope for the best possible finish to the group stage.”
Qatar, who will host the next World Cup in 2022, may now need to beat Messi’s Argentina in their final Group B match if they are to reach the last eight.
“It leaves a bad taste because the end was close,” said Qatar’s Spanish coach Felix Sanchez.
“Conceding a goal in the final minutes when the game was heading for a draw, it leaves you bitter at not having taken a point.
“But we also have to appreciate that the team competed with great opponents.”
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