26 de Junio de 2024 - 12:22 am

Copa America: Argentina takes revenge; heat hits Canada-Peru

Copa America 2024 has its first team to advance to the knockout stage, none other than the defending champion: Argentina

Lautaro Martinez
Lautaro Martinez. (Courtesy: Conmebol)

Copa America 2024 has its first team to advance to the knockout stage, none other than the defending champion: Argentina.

The Argentines waited eight years to avenge a Copa America Centenario match in which they lost in the final against Chile, marked also by the momentary retirement of Lionel Messi. Today, Lautaro Martinez added a new chapter to this story at the Metlife Stadium.

Canada also wrote its story on the sixth day of competition by scoring its first goal and its first win in the high temperatures of Kansas City.

Chile 0-1 Argentina

  • With ticket in hand

It took a close fight for 88 minutes until the solution came from the bench in the form of Lautaro Martinez, who sealed Argentina’s early qualification to the quarterfinals with his goal.

With their six points, Argentina sits as the leader of Group A, which it shares with Canada, Chile and Peru, whom they will face as they seek to close with a perfect first round next Saturday.

El delantero argentino Lionel Messi (d) y el chileno Victor Davila (i) durante la Copa América 2024. EFE/EPA/JUSTIN LANE
EFE/EPA/JUSTIN LANE
  • Argentina with second ‘sold out

Just as with their opening match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Argentina again had a sell-out crowd, this time at the Metlife Stadium.

The New Jersey venue, which has a capacity of 82,500 fans, had a full house for the second Group A match, as reported by CONMEBOL before the opening whistle.

  • Messi’s alerts

For a moment, Messi worried his team and the fans when he requested medical assistance after receiving a couple of tackles that conditioned his performance in the first half.

The Argentina captain noticed the discomfort in his right leg after 24 minutes and was quickly treated with a massage to recover his physical condition, which has been marked by injuries during the last few games with Inter Miami.

Peru 0-1 Canada

  • First goal and first win in Copa América
Canada redeemed its tournament-opening loss to Argentina with its first victory to stay alive in Group C, after beating Peru. They next face Chile on Saturday, June 29th.
Jonathan David scored the first goal in the history of the Canadian national team in the continental tournament.
  • Dramatic scene: An assistant fainted!
There was drama at the game as second assistant Humberto Panjoj collapsed shortly before the end of the first half amid intense heat that hovered around 100+ degrees at Children’s Mercy Park.
El árbitro asistente Humberto Panjoj de Guatemala es atendido por equipos médicos en la Copa América. EFE/EPA/WILLIAM PURNELL
EFE/EPA/WILLIAM PURNELL
The Guatemalan assistant, who was under the sun’s rays throughout the first half, collapsed to the turf during stoppage time. Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was the first to rush to his assistance and call for medical teams, who took him away on a stretcher.
As a result, Panjoj was replaced for the second half by the Ecuadorian Ricardo Barén.
  • Refereeing controversy returns
In the heat of Kansas City, the refereeing was questioned with a controversial decision that could have changed the course of the first half.
After 38 minutes, the Peruvian Marcos Lopez was involved in a confrontation with the Canadian Alistair Johnston, giving him a head-butt that merited the red card for the Inca defender; however, despite the VAR review, Lopez did not even see a yellow card and only remained a warning call.
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