Israel, Iran exchange airstrikes in unprecedented escalation, sparking fears of regional war    Rock Developments to launch new 17-feddan residential project in New Heliopolis    Madinet Masr, Waheej sign MoU to drive strategic expansion in Saudi Arabia    EHA, Konecta explore strategic partnership in digital transformation, smart healthcare    Egyptian ministers highlight youth role in shaping health policy at Senate simulation meeting    Egypt signs $1.6bn in energy deals with private sector, partners    Pakistani, Turkish leaders condemn Israeli strikes, call for UN action    Egypt to offer 1st airport for private management by end of '25 – PM    Egypt's President stresses need to halt military actions in call with Cypriot counterpart    Scatec signs power purchase deal for 900 MW wind project in Egypt's Ras Shukeir    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    EGX starts Sunday trade in negative territory    Environment Minister chairs closing session on Mediterranean Sea protection at UN Ocean Conference    Egypt nuclear authority: No radiation rise amid regional unrest    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt delays Grand Museum opening to Q4 amid regional tensions    Egypt slams Israeli strike on Iran, warns of regional chaos    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's EDA joins high-level Africa-Europe medicines regulatory talks    US Senate clears over $3b in arms sales to Qatar, UAE    Egypt discusses urgent population, development plan with WB    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt, Serbia explore cultural cooperation in heritage, tourism    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Egypt launches "Memory of the City" app to document urban history    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



We finally got all the goals: Argentina star Messi
Argentina routs Paraguay 6-1 to reach Copa America final
Published in Ahram Online on 01 - 07 - 2015

Lionel Messi helped set up five goals as Argentina trounced Paraguay 6-1 in the Copa America semifinals on Tuesday, setting up a final against host Chile.
Messi assisted in first-half goals by Marcos Rojo and Javier Pastore and one of Angel Di Maria's second-half goals. The Barcelona star also helped set up the final two goals by Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain.
Messi showed his brilliant play-making abilities when he beat three defenders — poking the ball through the legs of one of them — in a remarkable run from near midfield that culminated in Argentina's fourth goal by Di Maria.
"We knew the goals would come eventually," Messi said through a translator. "We were playing well, creating chances, and today we finally got all the goals."
Argentina had scored only four times coming into Tuesday's match.
"We are committed to keep playing the same way," Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said. "The team showed precision and efficiency in front of the goal."
Striker Lucas Barrios scored the lone goal for Paraguay, which was trying to reach its second straight Copa America final after losing to Uruguay in the 2011 tournament.
In Saturday's final, Argentina will attempt to end a 22-year title drought to give Messi his first triumph with the national team, while Chile, boosted by the home crowd and its best generation of players in years, will be going for its first South American championship.
Argentina hasn't won a significant trophy since the 1993 Copa America, when Messi was 6 years old. The Argentines were eliminated by eventual champion Uruguay in the Copa America quarterfinals at home in 2011, and lost consecutive finals to rival Brazil in 2004 and 2007.
But Argentina has won the previous four Copa Americas played in Chile — the last in 1991. It's also never lost to Chile in the tournament.
Argentina outplayed Paraguay during most of the match in Concepcion, controlling possession and creating scoring chances from the beginning. The team only struggled for a few minutes before halftime, but came back to crush its rivals in the second half.
"It was a sizable score, but Paraguayans have to be proud of this team, which is continuing to improve," said Paraguay's Argentine coach Ramon Diaz, who took over the squad in December after it finished last in World Cup qualifying. "I am very proud of them, they have been working hard to overcome many things and made it to the last four at this tournament."
Paraguay lost two key players because of injury in the first half — playmaker Derlis Gonzalez in the 26th minute and veteran striker Roque Santa Cruz in the 30th. Gonzalez was crucial in the quarterfinals against Brazil, scoring the equalizer and converting the decisive penalty in the shootout.
"We were playing against the best team in the world," Diaz said of Argentina. "They were better than us in all aspects."
Rojo opened the scoring in the 15th after Messi's free kick into the penalty area. Paraguayan defenders failed to clear the ball and Rojo easily found the net from the six-meter (yard) line.
Messi than set up Pastore's goal in the 27th by feeding him the ball in perfect position for a low shot from the top of the area.
Paraguay pulled one closer in the 43rd when Barrios fired a powerful shot from just outside the area after Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi erred by trying to move the ball forward with a long pass.
Di Maria added to Argentina's lead just two minutes into the second half after entering the area free of any defenders and scored again five minutes later after Messi's spectacular run past three Paraguayan defenders. Pastore received the pass from Messi, but his shot was saved by Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar, and Di Maria found the open net off the rebound.
Messi also started the play that led to the fifth goal, an 80th-minute header by Aguero after a left-side cross by Di Maria. In the sixth, Messi poked the ball forward to set up Higuain's close-range shot in the 83rd.
Messi nearly scored himself with a curling free kick in the 39th that barely missed and also came close in the 68th with a close-range shot that was saved by Villar.
Paraguay has never beaten Argentine in 24 Copa America matches.
(For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/134235.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.