Messi shines, Argentina wins the opening match at Copa America 2024

In the opening match of Copa America 2024, defending champion Argentina defeated CONCACAF representative Canada with a score of 2-0, when superstar Lionel Messi contributed to both goals.

GOAL

Argentina : Julian Alvarez (49′), Lautaro Martinez (88′)

At 7:00 a.m. this morning (June 21), PUMA Cumbre – the official ball of Copa America 2024 began rolling in the United States, marking nearly a month of competition for 16 teams from the two football federations CONMEBOL (10 teams) and CONCACAF (6 teams). As the defending champion, Argentina plays the opening match against CONCACAF representative Canada.

Before this match, Argentina and Canada had met each other 3 times and in all 3 of those times, the giant South American team won, scoring a total of 9 goals and not even allowing Canada to have an honorable goal. However, that could not stop Canada from participating enthusiastically when rematching Argentina.

However, it was Argentina who had the first dangerous opportunity. In the 8th minute, Di Maria won the ball in his own half and launched a quick counterattack. However, facing Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, the former PSG star failed to score.

2 minutes later, Di Maria had the opportunity to score in the CONCACAF team’s penalty area after Messi’s delicate shot. However, unlike before, this time Di Maria missed the ball. Canada’s choice of counter-attacking defense style caused Argentina’s strikers to face many difficulties in the first 45 minutes.

In the second half, Argentina actively accelerated and in the 49th minute, Lionel Scaloni’s army successfully broke the balance. None other than Messi created the difference with a delicate pass for Mac Allister to enter the penalty area. The Liverpool midfielder was fouled by goalkeeper Crepeau, but the ball reached Alvarez’s position and the striker easily kicked the ball into the Canadian net.

This clearing goal helped Argentina get excited and then create many dangerous attacks. In the 65th minute, Messi escaped and finished in an empty position but could not convert into a goal. Canada also had its own opportunities but unfortunately did not take advantage of them successfully.

As a result, Canada had to receive another bitter blow in the 88th minute when Messi assisted substitute Lautaro Martinez to escape and shoot through the legs of goalkeeper Crepeau, doubling the gap for defending champion Argentina.

In the end, Argentina defeated Canada 2-0 in the opening match of Copa America 2024, thereby getting off to a smooth start in Group A. In the second match, Argentina will face Chile at 8:00 a.m. on June 26.