Argentina face Brazil in the Copa America final on Saturday after beating Colombia on penalties in a dramatic semi-final.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was the hero of his country and saved three spot kicks to win a 3-2 victory in the shootout after drawing 1-1 after extra time.
Albiceleste started the game brightly and Lautaro Martinez almost gave his side the lead within four minutes, but his header from a Lionel Messi cross flashed right at the far post. However, that combination paid off in seven minutes, when Messi cut the ball back to Martinez, and the Inter star stroked the ball in the corner of the net from 12 yards out.
Colombia sought an equalizer and Yerry Mina came close and hit the crossbar from a powerful header. And they got their reward on the hour mark, when Luis Diaz ran in on a ball in behind Argentina’s back line and pressed a shot in the far corner from an extremely sharp angle.
Martinez should have put Argentina ahead for the second time in 73 minutes, after Angel Di Maria took advantage of a moment of madness from David Ospina, who came rushing out of his goal and failed to get to the ball first.
Di Maria squared off for Martinez, who faced the easy task of hitting the net with just one defender on the line. But the Colombian man rejected the striker’s best shot, and Di Maria blew the rebound high and wide.
Argentina have reached the Copa America final after beating Colombia / Andressa Anholete / Getty Images
The game eventually went to penalty, which gave goalkeeper Martinez his crown moment. After Messi ruthlessly emptied his spot kick, the Villa goalkeeper paired up efforts from Davinson Sanchez, Mina and Edwin Cardona to win a 3-2 victory in the shootout and book his place in the Copa America final.
Argentina will face Brazil in the grand final of the Maracana, hoping to defeat the hosts and clear the famous silver cutlery for the first time since 1993.
