Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain celebrates his goal against Paraguay with teammate Lionel Messi during their Copa America 2015 semi-final soccer match at Estadio Municipal Alcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo in Concepcion, Chile, June 30,2015.
Argentina produced their best performance of the Copa America so far to crush Paraguay 6-1 early on Wednesday BdST and set up a classic final against hosts Chile.
Angel di Maria scored twice and Marcos Rojo, Javier Pastore, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain also found the net in a brilliant display orchestrated by an inspired Lionel Messi at Concepcion.
Argentina had scored only four goals in their four previous matches but Messi said it was not because the team had not been playing well.
“We talked about that just before the match and we said it was just chance that we hadn’t scored more because we’ve been playing well,” Messi said.
“Today all the goals came at once.”
Gerardo Martino’s side took the lead after 15 minutes when Messi swung a free kick in from the left, Rojo failed to connect cleanly with his first touch but swept the ball home from close range with his second.
Argentina’s Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring a goal as Paraguay’s Ivan Piris looks on during their Copa America 2015 semi-final soccer match at Estadio Municipal Alcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo in Concepcion, Chile, June 30, 2015. Reuters
Paraguay players react after Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain (not pictured) scored a goal during their Copa America 2015 semi-final soccer match at Estadio Municipal Alcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo in Concepcion, Chile, June 30, 2015. Reuters
Argentina doubled their lead 12 minutes later and again Messi was the provider.
He threaded an inch-perfect pass through the Paraguayan defence for Pastore to run on to. His powerful low shot gave goalkeeper Justo Villar no chance.
Things went from bad to worse for Paraguay when both their strikers, Derliz Gonzalez and Roque Santa Cruz, limped off injured.
Santa Cruz’s replacement, Lucas Barrios, gave them hope with a goal just before the break but in the second half Argentina were unstoppable.
Paraguay’s Paulo Da Silva (R) fails to stop a goal by Argentina’s Angel Di Maria during their Copa America 2015 semi-final soccer match at Estadio Municipal Alcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo in Concepcion, Chile, June 30, 2015. Reuters
Argentina’s Sergio Aguero falls near Argentine coach Gerardo Martino during their Copa America 2015 semi-final soccer match against Paraguay at Estadio Municipal Alcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo in Concepcion, Chile, June 30, 2015. Reuters
Minutes into the second half, Pastore burst through midfield and fed Di Maria, who buried a left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Six minutes later, Messi destroyed the Paraguayan defence with a mazy run to set up Pastore. His shot was parried by Villar but Di Maria was on hand to slot home the rebound.
On 80 minutes Di Maria turned provider, crossing from the left for Aguero to head home, and minutes later Higuain came off the bench to score a sixth.
Argentina will face Chile at Santiago’s national stadium early on Sunday BdST.
Source: Bd news24