Expert shotstopper: Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saving a penalty from Ecuador's Angel Mena during the penalty shoot in their quarter-final match. - AFP
HOUSTON (Texas): Emi Martinez grabbed the chance to be Argentina’s saviour in their Copa America shootout win over Ecuador on Thursday as the goalkeeper made two key saves and picked his team up off the floor after captain Lionel Messi had missed the first spot-kick.
After the match ended 1-1, Martinez’s saves from Angel Mena and Alan Minda put Ecuador on the back foot and set the platform for defending champions Argentina to reach the semi-finals.
Martinez had pumped up the crowd earlier in the quarter-final when Ecuador skipper Enner Valencia missed a penalty, and the 31-year-old said he made it clear to his teammates before the shootout that defeat was not an option.
“I told the boys I wasn’t ready to go home. They weren’t either,” added Martinez after being named Player of the Match.
“We are champions of the world and of (South) America, this team deserved to go on.
“I got a bit carried away by the crowd, because we had the Argentines here and also my family nearby.
“We didn’t give the game that people wanted to see, but in the end we won.”
Martinez had every right to be confident in the shootout.
The shotstopper has now won all four he has been involved in with Argentina -- including the 2022 World Cup final where they beat France.
“I work for that, I throw myself 500 times a day in training,” Martinez added.
“I try to be at my best level for the national team because the country deserves it, the people who spend their money to come and watch us.”
Rodrigo De Paul said his teammate deserved the plaudits after another stellar performance in a shootout.
“The truth is that what he’s doing is crazy, he deserves it. He loves wearing these colours,” De Paul said.
“He gives us a lot of security and peace of mind. We try to do the same for him, but in these important moments he is always there.”
Lisandro Martinez’s opener for Argentina was cancelled out by Kevin Rodriguez in stoppage time, and with no extra time at the Copa America apart from the final, the match went straight to penalties.
Lionel Messi clipped the crossbar with Argentina’s first effort in the shootout but Martinez saved from Angel Mena and Alan Minda as the defending champions moved into a semi-final match-up against either Venezuela or Canada.
“In penalties, the team have blind confidence in their goalkeeper and that is fundamental,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “Even after Leo’s miss and with all that means for the team, it’s very important that our goalkeeper came up clutch.
“I think it’s not enjoyable when you win in this way. Of course, we are happy, but I didn’t enjoy this victory.”
Argentina will face either Canada or Venezuela in the semi-finals as they look to claim a record 16th Copa title. — Reuters
