• Copa América 2024

Sports Desk, Jul 10 (EFE).-

Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi scored on either side of the break as defending and world champions Argentina beat Canada 2-0 to qualify for the Copa America final in New Jersey on Tuesday.

It is Messi’s third consecutive final in a major tournament, following the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022.

Argentina will now play the final on July 14 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami against the winner of the Colombia-Uruguay match.

Canada, who will have another go in the third-place deciding play-off, will leave the tournament with their heads held high having made their debut in the tournament.

They started the semi-final on a brighter note, dominating the game in the opening 20 minutes.

But they lacked the cutting edge that would give them any advantage against a quality Argentine team.

In the 22nd minute, Rodrigo de Paul saw a space in the center circle and passed the ball to Alvarez, illustrating the skill and ability of the Argentine players to read the game better.

The Manchester City forward received it between the two defenders, controlled it with his phenomenal skill, and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, a position from which he rarely misses.

His goal finally allowed Argentina to establish their authority, which gave them a few more scoring opportunities that Angel Di Maria, Nicolas Tagliafico, and Messi wasted in the first half.

Messi scored his first goal of the current edition six minutes into the break, deflecting an Enzo Fernandez shot into the goal.

Argentina slowed the game down after taking a comfortable lead and made substitutions to refresh the team.

Tani Oluwaseyi came close to returning a goal for Canada two minutes from time, but Emiliano Martínez outstretched his leg to make a brilliant stop. EFE

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