NEW JERSEY: Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the Copa America final after goals from Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi secured a 2-0 win over Canada in the semifinals in New Jersey on Tuesday.
Argentina have won a joint-record 15 Copa titles and reached the final six times in the last eight editions, but Canada troubled them in the opening twenty minutes, Jacob Shaffelburg twice shooting wide from promising positions.
After soaking up the early pressure, Argentina went ahead when Rodrigo De Paul played through Alvarez, who got between two defenders and scored with a neat finish in the 22nd minute.
2022 World Cup winners Argentina gradually took control of the game and Messi had a chance to double their lead in the 44th minute when he created space in the box with silky footwork before trying to break free.
Canada almost grabbed an equalizer against the run of play in first-half stoppage time when Jonathan David crept in front of his marker to get on the end of a long throw, but his shot from close range went straight past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Messi then scored a second time in the 51st minute when he stuck out his boot to deflect Enzo Fernandez’s shot from the edge of the box past Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
The goal moved Messi into joint fifth on the all-time Copa America scoring list, tied for 14th by Peru’s Paolo Guerrero and Chile’s Eduardo Vargas.
The 37-year-old also surpassed Iran’s Ali Daei in the all-time international goalscoring charts with his 109th goal for Argentina. Messi is second only to Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 130 goals for Portugal.
Despite the two-goal cushion, Argentina had a nervy finish to the match as Canadian substitute Tani Oluwaseyi tested Martinez with a sharp shot in the 89th minute before heading in a flying header a minute later.
Argentina will face either Uruguay or Colombia in the final in Florida on Sunday, who meet on Wednesday.
