A lacklustre display from the United States has ensured Argentina a place in a third successive major tournament final in three years after a 4-0 win in Houston.
The home team offered next to no resistance in the Copa America semi-final, or any challenge to Argentina’s goal as two strikes from Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuaín, and one each from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Lionel Messi sealed an easy win.
Lavezzi’s third-minute goal set the tone of the match, finishing off Messi’s sublimely weighted chip with a delicate header over goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Messi then turned scorer himself, curling a stunning free-kick into the top right-hand corner of the net and leaving Guzan with absolutely no chance.
The goal was Messi’s 55th for Argentina, breaking Gabriel Batistuta’s record and becoming the nation’s all-time leading scorer in the process.
Two second-half goals from Higuaín ensured the win, with Argentina’s only concern coming in the form of a freak injury to Lavezzi.
According to reports after the game, the 31-year old Hebei China Fortune forward has suffered a broken arm after toppling over the advertising board while attempting to keep the ball in play.
The United States were thoroughly dominated throughout the game, failing to register a single shot on goal.
It was a disappointing end to an otherwise successful tournament for Jürgen Klinsmann’s men, who can still come away with a best-ever finish in the Copa America if they win Sunday morning’s third place playoff.
The major question though will be whether Argentina can break their 23-year major trophy drought in Monday’s final.
Debilitating defeats to Germany in the final of the 2014 World Cup, and to Chile in last year’s Copa America final have ensured Argentina’s tag as ‘chokers’, so will it be third time lucky?
They will certainly go into the final as favourites, irrespective of their opponents – the winners of tomorrow morning’s second semi-final between Chile and Colombia.
Whoever the opponent, it will hopefully prove to be a far more competitive display than the one provided today by the United States.
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