Goalkeeper Emi Martínez emerged as the hero for Argentina in a thrilling Copa América quarterfinal match against Ecuador. The encounter, held in Houston, Texas, ended in a 1-1 draw before La Albiceleste secured a 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout.
Argentina took the lead in the 35th minute when Lisandro Martínez scored with a header from a corner kick. Despite dominating for most of the match, Ecuador managed to equalize in stoppage time through Kevin Rodríguez's well-placed header off a cross from John Yeboah.
In the dying moments of the game, Ecuador had a golden opportunity to snatch the win, but Jordy Caicedo missed a crucial header from close range.
The match proceeded directly to penalties, where Lionel Messi's initial attempt, a Panenka effort, hit the crossbar. However, Emi Martínez came to Argentina's rescue by saving two penalties from Ángel Mena and Alan Minda.
Martínez, known for his prowess in penalty shootouts, showcased his skills once again and celebrated with his signature dance after denying Minda's spot kick. The Aston Villa goalkeeper has an impressive record of saving nine out of 24 penalties faced while representing Argentina.
Reflecting on the intense match, Martínez emphasized the team's determination and effort, stating, 'I dive 500 times per training session. We always have to give our best, the people deserve it.' He acknowledged Ecuador's strong performance and expressed his commitment to ensuring Argentina's progression in the tournament.
Argentina's victory sets up a semifinal clash with the winner of the quarterfinal match between Venezuela and Canada. Despite the challenges faced against Ecuador, La Albiceleste remains focused on their goal of clinching the Copa América title.
'These are special moments, being with our people, [a stadium] full of Argentines,' Martínez remarked. 'We didn’t play the game that the people wanted to see, but luckily, we won.'
