By Afolabi Samuel Odunayo
With Argentina edging Ecuador in the thrilling Copa America quarterfinal on Thursday, Lionel Scaloni, Argentina coach, has expressed dissatisfaction over the club’s overreliance on goalkeeper, Emi Martinez.
Despite Argentina winning the game on a 4-2 shootout against their Ecuadorean counterparts, Scaloni raised concerns about his team’s low-level performance, believing they ultimately played below his expectations.
While giving his comments to journalists minutes after the match, the coach said, “In penalties, the team has blind confidence in its goalkeeper and that is fundamental.
“Even after Leo’s miss and with all that means for the team, it’s very important that our goalkeeper came up clutch.
“I think it’s not enjoyable when you win in this way. Of course, we are happy, but I didn’t enjoy this victory.”
Scaloni’s complaint might be owing to the missed opportunities, lapses in defence, and lack of cooperation displayed by the team.
It would be recalled that Messi missed Argentina’s final group match against Peru because of the injury which he had sustained around his hamstring. He nonetheless appeared for the match against Ecuador, thus, breaking record for the most minutes played in the history of the tournament.
The New Diplomat reports that Argentina narrowly defeated Ecuador 4-3 in a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw in regular time. Ecuador’s Enner Valencia missed a penalty in the 60th minute, hitting the post, and Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez made two crucial saves in the shootout to secure the win.
Ecuador pushed hard in the second half, with Rodrigo De Paul’s handball leading to a penalty kick. Valencia’s effort was denied by the post, and Argentina’s Cristian Romero blocked the rebound. Ecuador finally equalized in the 91st minute through a header from Rodriguez, but Argentina prevailed in the shootout.
Ecuador coach Felix Sanchez however appreciated Enner’s confidence in taking the penalty. “It’s a lottery today, it didn’t go in. Maybe next time it will,” he hoped.
Argentina advances to the semifinals, while Ecuador’s search for a Copa America win over Argentina continues.
