The Draw Martínez is a handicap. There is no way to describe the goalkeeper of the Argentine National Team, perhaps the best in the world, certainly one of the greatest in Albiceleste history. For the Mar del Plata team, Lionel Scaloni’s team defeated Ecuador on penalties and advanced to the semifinals of the Copa América 2024.

From the outset, the Albiceleste found themselves in practically unexplored territory in recent years: La Tri passed them over during the first 15 minutes. Scaloni’s team was constantly overwhelmed, generally in the right lane, and suffered on three occasions.

Moi Caicedo could not finish comfortably in the first, but the clearest was Jeremy Sarmiento, who forced a tremendous save from Dibu with his left leg, recalling his Lusail feat. Despite having more of the ball, the defending champions were not on the field, and Félix Sánchez Bas’s men seemed more energetic, winning the divisions and searching with conviction for the rival goal.

However, as the minutes passed, Argentina began to settle in and evened the match based on the work of its midfielders, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández, the latter very imprecise in the final touches. It was precisely the Chelsea midfielder who had the first clear idea, with a header and a shot blocked by the defense.

And from that ball, which led to a corner, came the opening of the scoring for the Albiceleste: Messi, unknown, not very active, perhaps annoyed by the muscle injury he is suffering from in his right adductor, sent a cross to the near post that Mac Allister combed and found Licha Martínez at the far post. The defender headed and, although Alexander Domínguez cleared the ball, it had (clearly) entered the Ecuadorian goal entirely.

In this way, perhaps without having achieved so many merits, but taking advantage of the moment and showing off its hierarchy, Argentina took the lead in Houston, in what was Martínez’s first goal with the national team.

The world champions hit in a key section of the match and started the second half looking to finish the game (Messi, from the right, had a key, but his shot was weak), but Ecuador resisted the (few) albiceleste attacks and had a chance unbeatable to start, from a penalty by Rodrigo De Pau. However, while Dibu looked to get bigger, Enner Valencia kicked the post and Argentina maintained the advantage.

The match, then, became disputed, frictional, with no room for associated play. Ecuador pushed with more desire than clarity, throwing all its attackers onto the field, and Argentina defended itself by adding centimeters and seeking to take possession of the ball, something that cost them throughout the entire night.

And in that context, when it seemed that they had won the hard-fought victory, it was 1-1. La Tri played a free kick quickly, John Yeboah sent a cross and Kevin Rodríguez, one of the Ecuadorian tanks, headed in and scored the tie. After a long VAR review, the Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte, having had a very poor night, validated the goal correctly.

And in the penalties, Draw. Draw, Draw and always Draw. Messi, in one of his weakest presentations with the national team’s shirt, stung it and crashed his shot into the crossbar. But Martínez blocked Ángel Mena’s shot and, after Julián Álvarez scored, he took it to Alan Minda. Then they exchanged goals, in order, Mac Allister, Yeboah, Gonzalo Montiel and Jordy Caicedo, so that Nicolás Otamendi, one of the great references, defined the series and unleashed the River Plate madness.

As had already happened during the Copa América, Argentina did not play well. Unlike what happened in many sections of the Scaloni era, he did not feel comfortable, and for long moments he danced to the rhythm of La Tri, who was a worthy rival, with strength and frontal attacks that complicated the Albiceleste defense. But he is the best team in the world also because of his names, among which is the Aston Villa goalkeeper.

The rival of the Scaloneta will be defined this Friday, from 10 p.m. (ARG), when Venezuela and Canada, leader of Group B and runner-up of Group B, respectively, clash in Arlington, Texas. And the semifinal will take place on Tuesday, July 9 in New Jersey (9 p.m. ARG).

On the other hand, looking for the semifinal, Colombia-Panama and Uruguay-Brazil will be the matches on a Saturday full of soccer.