Lionel Messi Breaks Goals Record In Argentina’s 4-0 Victory Over US In Copa America Semifinal

Yet again, Argentina has proved why their soccer team is ranked first in the world.

Lionel Messi Breaks Goals Record In Argentina’s 4-0 Victory Over US

The Argentines, led by Lionel Messi, routed the United States Men’s National Team 4-0 in the Copa America Cenenario semifinal in Houston on Tuesday night.

Messi set up the first goal, which came after a corner kick when the Barcelona forward sent a clever lob pass from the top of the box to Ezequiel Lavezzi, who headed the ball over goalkeeper Brad Guzan to give Argentina a 1-0 lead just three minutes in.

“After that early goal, I think our players could feel that, probably at every position on the field, they were just better than we are,” US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.

Messi then scored the second goal himself on a free kick that was awarded after US forward Chris Wondolowski, who made his first start of the tournament on Tuesday, gave up the ball easily and then chased Messi only to knock the Argentinian to the grass with his hip. Wondolowski was given a yellow card, Messi took the free kick from about 25 yards out, and fired a left-footer past the wall of defenders and Guzan and into the far-right corner of the goal to give Argentina a 2-0 lead in the 32nd minute.

The goal marked Messi’s fifth of the tournament and 55th international goal, the most of any player in Argentina’s history; he even surpassed Gabriel Batistuta, Batistuta scored 54 times in 78 appearances for Argentina between 1991 and 2002.

Messi, along with several other Argentines, stunned the US players by dribbling around the perimeter of their defense and probing for shots. He delivered precise passes and arguably scored one of the best goals of the tournament.

“He has an unbelievable left foot,” said US captain Michael Bradley. “Everybody in the world knows that. He was able to hook a great one in the upper corner.”

Then in the second half, 17-year-old Borussia Dortumund midfielder Christian Pulisic came on to replace Wondolowski, but the youngster was unable to help the US much. In the 50th minute, Augusto Fernandez sent a pass through to Gonzalo Higuain, who stayed just onside and then beat US defender John Brooks, shot a goal that Guzan blocked, and collected his own rebound to put the ball in the back of the net to put Argentina up 3-0.

Lavezzi then injured himself in the 63rd minute. The Argentine leaped to head a ball near the sideline but fell over backwards behind the electronic advertising board and appeared to hit the ground hard. His teammates and medical staff immediately rushed over, and even some US players called for help, and Lavezzi was wheeled out to the locker room. Erik Lamela came on to replace him in the 67th minute. Lavezzi had also previously collided with Guzan in the final minute of the first half.

The US made its final substitution in the 78th minute, when Darlington Nagbe came in for Clint Dempsey. However, this change also proved to be fruitless.

Argentina scored their final goal of the game off a carless turnover by the US in the 86th minute. Steve Birnbaum lost a pass from Bradley near the top-center of the box, and Messi intercepted the ball to record yet another assist. Messi crossed the ball from the left side of the box with a ground pass to Higuain. Birnbaum chased after to correct his mistake, but it was already too late. Higuain fired it past Guzan, who had rushed over from the left after tracking Messi.

Klinsmann lamented that his players appeared to show too much respect for Argentina’s talent.

“In general, we had too much respect,” Klinsmann said.

Bradley, however, respectfully disagreed with that statement.

“I respect his opinion,” Bradley said. “Please don’t make it out to be anything like that.”

Argentina will now advance to the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal, Chile-Colombia, which is set for Wednesday night in Chicago. The US will play the loser of Wednesday’s semifinal on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona to determine third place.

PHOTO: HOUSTON, TX – JUNE 21: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina passes through a group of defenders in the first half against the United States during a 2016 Copa America Centenario Semifinal match at NRG Stadium on June 21, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)