VENEZUELA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Argentina defeats Mexico 3-0 to make the Copa America final with Brazil

Thousands poured in to the Puerto Ordaz stadium in Venezuela to watch Argentina beat Mexico 3-0 in their Copa America semi-final on Wednesday (July 11). Lionel Messi scored a breathtaking goal, arguably the best of the tournament. Collecting a pass from Carlos Tevez, Messi spotted goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez off his line and chipped the ball into the net to score Argentina's second as they set up a final against old rivals Brazil. The 61st-minute goal, which came as Mexico were pressing for an equaliser, turned the game and Juan Riquelme Roman added a third from a controversial penalty, his fifth goal of the tournament. Mexico, 6-0 conquerers of Paraguay in their quarter-final, made a lively start and nearly went ahead in the 18th minute when Andres Guardado, free on the left, cut inside his marker and hit the outside of the post. Argentina, meanwhile, looked dangerous whenever Riquelme got the ball. The elegant number 10 floated over a free kick which eluded goalkeeper Sanchez and found Roberto Ayala, whose shot was blocked. Then he sent Tevez clear but his effort was again saved. Argentina broke through in the 45th minute when another Riquelme freekick found Gabriel Heinze, who hooked the ball past Sanchez with his left foot. Mexico were again unlucky in the 55th minute when Fernando Arce split the Argentina defence and found Nery Castillo, whose shot hit the crossbar. Argentina struck the killer blow six minutes later when Heinze opened up Mexico's defence with a crossfield pass to Tevez, who laid it off to Messi who scored his gem. Five minutes later, Tevez went down in the area and, although replays showed he fell before any contact was made, a penalty was awarded. Riquelme nonchalantly chipped the ball in for his fifth goal of the tournament. Speaking after the match, Mexican striker Rafa Marquez said his side maintained a good rhythn but opened up a lot of spaces which caused a lot of damage. "I think we maintained a good rhythm. We were in control and we made some plays on the goal. We closed up the gaps in the defense well. And well, the play on the goal in the first half didn't win a goal. And then later in the second half there was 15 minutes that we found ourselves in where we opened up a lot of spaces and that did us a lot of damage. They have players of high standard, and they showed that today," said Marquez. It wasn't much of a present for coach Hugo Sanchez, who was celebrating his 49th birthday. "They were superior to us. We had our chance and we didn't make use of it. But they made use of what they had and in that respect we can say that we got what we asked for - to get to the semi-finals. But we couldn't make it to the real goal - to get to the final and hope to win the Copa for the first time. But the work of Mexico in this Copa America was within the top four (teams), and as Rafa said, that is important for the prestige of the soccer from all of Mexico," Sanchez said. Argentina hope to continue their good luck in Sunday's final. "We have won five games and got to the final. We hope to have the same luck, so that the team will return and play just as well and in line with what the boys have been doing up until now. And that is it. I have nothing else to say," said Argentine coach Alfio Basile said. Messi, who was man of the match, said he would like it if his Barcelona teammate Ronaldinho wasn't playing for Brazil in final. "I would have liked it if he wasn't playing. But we have a difficult match, and we will keep on with the same goals that we had and what we came to get. We are very close and we have to keep going now," Messi said. Argentina and Brazil meet in Venezuela on Sunday night.

ITN Source | July 13, 2007

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