Goals by Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez lifted top-ranked Argentina previous Canada because the star-studded South American aspect confirmed its pedigree in a 2-0 win within the Copa America semifinal on Tuesday.
Despite the loss, the Forty eighth-ranked Canadians didn’t disappoint earlier than a full of life crowd of 80,102 on a scorching, humid night time at MetLife Stadium, house of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets, in addition to the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup last.
The loud crowd was largely clad in Argentina blue though there have been pockets of purple. They noticed a gutsy efficiency from Canada, albeit one missing in scientific ending, and pure class from Argentina, whose passing and buildup had been straight out of a online game at instances.
The Canadians additionally fell 2-0 to Argentina after they met within the June twentieth match opener in Atlanta. Argentina thumped Canada 5-0 of their solely different assembly, in May 2010 in Buenos Aires within the Argentines’ last warm-up earlier than the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Messi and the Argentines will play both No. 12 Colombia or No. 14 Uruguay, who meet Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C., in Sunday’s championship recreation at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Canada heads to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte for Saturday’s third-place recreation.
Argentina confirmed its high quality, content material to stroke the ball round after which change gears right away when it noticed a gap in Canada’s defence.
And regardless of a optimistic begin, Canada fell behind within the twenty second minute on Argentina’s first shot on the right track. The Canadian defence was carved open by a protracted move from Rodrigo De Paul that Alvarez managed with a nice first contact earlier than outmuscling Moise Bombito and slipping a shot by way of goalkeeper Max Crepeau’s legs.
Coach Jesse Marsch and the Canadian bench had been irate, believing a foul by Argentina’s Nicolas Tagliafico — who steamrollered Richie Laryea as he tried to corral Crepeau’s objective kick, permitting the South Americans to win possession — had been missed earlier than the objective. Eight touches later the ball was within the Canada internet.
But Chilean referee Piero Maza was letting the groups play, a lot to Marsch’s displeasure. The Canada coach finally obtained a warning within the 77th minute for voicing his displeasure with the officiating.
Messi made it 2-0 within the 51st minute with a slight redirect of an Enzo Fernandez shot by way of site visitors after Canada failed to clear the ball. Canada had eight defenders in entrance of Crepeau in its penalty field however couldn’t snuff out the risk.
The objective survived a video overview verify for offside with Messi getting the inexperienced mild for his first objective of the match and his 14th in profession Copa America play.
Canada captain Alphonso Davies had to go away within the 71st minute after being injured in a tough sort out by Gonzalo Montiel that went unpunished.
The Canadian males had been trying to attain their first match last for the reason that 2000 Gold Cup after they upset Colombia to win the CONCACAF crown.
Canada, the final survivor of the six CONCACAF visitor groups, is making its Copa debut. The Canadian males beat No. 99 Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 in a March playoff to make the 16-country area — because the Eleventh-ranked crew on the match.
It has been an eventful competitors for the Canadian aspect below Marsch, the 50-year-old American who has infused his new crew with youth and confidence in addition to a brand new skipper in Davies.
Crepeau has established himself as Canada’s No. 1 goalkeeper. Bombito and Derek Cornelius have turn out to be the center of the defence whereas speedy winger Jacob Shaffelburg has had a breakout match.
There have been challenges.
Bombito was the sufferer of on-line racial abuse after a tough sort out on Messi within the match opener. And winger Tajon Buchan broke his leg in coaching.
Canada appeared to limit the Argentines with its press from the get-go, coming ahead with two early counterattacks that noticed Shaffelburg fireplace pictures off-target.
Messi shot simply vast within the Eleventh minute on an Argentine counterattack. And the ever-dangerous Argentina captain simply missed once more with a low shot late within the first half, adopted by an tried chip over Crepeau in stoppage time.
Argentina ‘keeper Emiliano Martinez, sporting an Argentina flag dyed into the aspect of his hair, was referred to as into motion within the dying seconds of the half after Jonathan David received to an Alistair Johnston lengthy throw-in, poking the ball towards objective from shut vary.
For the second recreation in a row, Argentina stored Canada ready to begin the second half. After Canada went down 2-0, Crepeau was referred to as into motion once more to cease Alvarez.
Ali Ahmed, Liam Millar, Tani Oluwaseyi, Mathieu Choiniere and Osorio got here on for Canada within the second half. The subs helped spark the offence with Canada threatening the South Americans because the clock wound down.
Oluwaseyi had two good probabilities within the dying minutes, with an acrobatic Martinez managing to get his physique in entrance of the primary shot within the 89th minute. The Canadian sub then noticed his header simply go vast.
Argentina got here into the semifinal having misplaced simply as soon as in 18 video games (16-1-1) since defeating France through penalty shootout within the World Cup last in December 2022. The one loss throughout that run was a 2-0 defeat by the hands of Uruguay in World Cup qualifying in November. And the draw was the penalty shootout win over No. 30 Ecuador final outing.
That did not deter Canadian rapper Drake from inserting a $300,000 guess on Canada to win, a wager returning $2.88 million if profitable. Drake posted the betting slip on-line, as he typically does with his wagers.
After shedding to Argentina within the match opener, Canada beat No. 31 Peru 1-0 and tied No. 40 Chile 0-0 to end second in Group A behind the Argentines. The Canadians then beat No. 54 Venezuela in a penalty shootout within the quarterfinal.
Argentina is in search of its third main crown after the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup. The Argentines are tied with Uruguay for many Copa America titles with 15.
