Reuters
Foxborough, June 19: Argentina and Chile advanced to the semifinals of the Copa America with Chile thrashing Mexico 7-0 and Lionel Messi getting a goal in Argentina’s 4-1 win over Venezuela to equal his country’s all-time scoring record.
Messi scored in the 60th minute to take his career tally for Argentina to 54 goals, matching the record held by Gabriel Batistuta. Argentina will now face the hosts United States in the first semifinal Tuesday in Houston. Meanwhile, Eduardo Vargas struck four goals to set up the reigning champions’ semifinal clash against Colombia, Wednesday.
Argentina got off to the perfect start after just seven minutes when Gonzalo Higuain dived to turn a delicate cross from Messi past goalkeeper Dani Hernandez. The in-form Napoli striker doubled the lead 20 minutes later when he latched on to a slack back pass to round the goalkeeper and slot the ball into the empty net.
Messi, who started for the first time in the tournament after three substitute appearances, put Argentina 3-0 ahead when he worked a lovely one-two with Nicolas Gaitan and then poked the ball under Hernandez. Venezuela were not out of it, though, and Rondon got the lightest of touches to head home and make it 3-1 after 70 minutes.
However, their hopes were short lived as just seconds later Erik Lamela, who had been on the field for only four minutes, shot home from 12 yards to make it 4-1 for Argentina.
Chile were unstoppable in the other quarterfinal against a fragile Mexico. Edson Puch got his first international goal after 15 minutes. Vargas got a second just before half time when he was first to pounce on a cross ball.
Alexis Sanchez was involved in most of Chile’s great work and he made it 3-0 just three minutes into the second half. Three minutes later Vargas got his second and Chile’s fourth.
Mexico had no answer to the pace and running of Sanchez and Arturo Vidal and it was Sanchez who helped Vargas to a hat-trick. Vargas got his fourth after 73 minutes when he blasted the ball into the roof of the net after dithering Mexican defenders failed to clear. Puch completed the rout in the 87th minute.
