Copa America: Lionel Messi goal salvages 1-1 draw with Paraguay

Lionel Messi salvaged a vital point for Argentina as they struggled in a 1-1 draw against Paraguay in the Copa America in Belo Horizonte.

The Barcelona forward's 57th-minute penalty cancelled out a first-half opener from Paraguay's Richard Sanchez.

Argentina remain bottom of Group B with one point from two games.

"We are lucky that we are still alive in this tournament," said coach Lionel Scaloni, whose side must win Sunday's fixture against Qatar.

"Our first half was not good, we played with desperation at times and we couldn't control the play or create attacks. We had a very clear plan but couldn't execute it as we kept losing the ball.

"They scored with their first attack and that caused us a lot of uncertainty. For a team like Argentina, which feels like it always has to win, the first blow is hard to take, but we assured the players at half-time that it was just one goal."

Minutes after Messi's equaliser, Paraguay were awarded a spot-kick of their own but Derlis Gonzalez's effort was punched away by Argentina keeper Franco Armani, who narrowly avoided a red card when he fouled Gonzalez outside his area at the end of the first half.

"We trust Franco. He is our starting goalkeeper. He saved a penalty and kept us alive. I'm glad he had a good performance," Scaloni said.

The draw followed their opening defeat by Colombia on Saturday. The two best third-placed teams advance to the quarter-finals, meaning Argentina will be knocked out of the tournament with anything less than a win against Asian Cup winners Qatar.

Elsewhere in Group B, Colombia clinched the top spot with six points with a 1-0 win over Qatar.

Paraguay, who were held to a 2-2 draw with Qatar in their first game, are second on two points and must beat Colombia to be guaranteed a spot in the quarter-finals.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Argentina

• 1ArmaniBooked at 45mins
• 14Casco
• 6Pezzella
• 17OtamendiBooked at 83mins
• 3TagliaficoBooked at 80mins
• 7PereyraSubstituted forAgüeroat 45'minutes
• 5Paredes
• 20Lo Celso
• 16de PaulSubstituted forSuárezat 87'minutes
• 10Messi
• 22MartínezSubstituted forDi Maríaat 67'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Foyth
• 4Saravia
• 8Acuña
• 9Agüero
• 11Di María
• 12Marchesín
• 13Funes Mori
• 15Pizarro
• 18Rodríguez
• 19Suárez
• 21Dybala
• 23Musso

Paraguay

• 12Fernández
• 2PirisBooked at 55mins
• 15GómezBooked at 32mins
• 13Alonso
• 18Arzamendia
• 10GonzálezSubstituted forEscobarat 90'minutes
• 6Sánchez
• 8RojasBooked at 43mins
• 20Rojas
• 23AlmirónSubstituted forOrtízat 87'minutes
• 9SantanderSubstituted forRomeroat 72'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Silva
• 3Escobar
• 4Balbuena
• 5Valdez
• 7Cardozo
• 11Iturbe
• 14Torres
• 16Ortíz
• 17Pérez
• 19Domínguez
• 21Romero
• 22Aguilar

Referee:

Wilton Pereira Sampaio

Attendance:

35,265

Match Stats

Home TeamArgentinaAway TeamParaguay

Possession

Home56%

Away44%

Shots

Home7

Away10

Shots on Target

Home2

Away3

Corners

Home2

Away3

Fouls

Home20

Away19

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Argentina 1, Paraguay 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+8'

Second Half ends, Argentina 1, Paraguay 1.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Milton Casco (Argentina).

Posted at 90'+6'

Óscar Romero (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+5'

Offside, Argentina. Franco Armani tries a through ball, but Sergio Agüero is caught offside.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina).

Posted at 90'+4'

Óscar Romero (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt blocked. Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sergio Agüero.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt missed. Matías Rojas (Paraguay) left footed shot from more than 40 yards on the right wing misses to the left. Assisted by Iván Piris with a headed pass.

Posted at 90'+1'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Iván Piris (Paraguay).

Substitution

Posted at 90'

Substitution, Paraguay. Juan Escobar replaces Derlis González.

Posted at 89'

AttRead More – Source

Lionel Messi salvaged a vital point for Argentina as they struggled in a 1-1 draw against Paraguay in the Copa America in Belo Horizonte.

The Barcelona forward's 57th-minute penalty cancelled out a first-half opener from Paraguay's Richard Sanchez.

Argentina remain bottom of Group B with one point from two games.

"We are lucky that we are still alive in this tournament," said coach Lionel Scaloni, whose side must win Sunday's fixture against Qatar.

"Our first half was not good, we played with desperation at times and we couldn't control the play or create attacks. We had a very clear plan but couldn't execute it as we kept losing the ball.

"They scored with their first attack and that caused us a lot of uncertainty. For a team like Argentina, which feels like it always has to win, the first blow is hard to take, but we assured the players at half-time that it was just one goal."

Minutes after Messi's equaliser, Paraguay were awarded a spot-kick of their own but Derlis Gonzalez's effort was punched away by Argentina keeper Franco Armani, who narrowly avoided a red card when he fouled Gonzalez outside his area at the end of the first half.

"We trust Franco. He is our starting goalkeeper. He saved a penalty and kept us alive. I'm glad he had a good performance," Scaloni said.

The draw followed their opening defeat by Colombia on Saturday. The two best third-placed teams advance to the quarter-finals, meaning Argentina will be knocked out of the tournament with anything less than a win against Asian Cup winners Qatar.

Elsewhere in Group B, Colombia clinched the top spot with six points with a 1-0 win over Qatar.

Paraguay, who were held to a 2-2 draw with Qatar in their first game, are second on two points and must beat Colombia to be guaranteed a spot in the quarter-finals.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Argentina

• 1ArmaniBooked at 45mins
• 14Casco
• 6Pezzella
• 17OtamendiBooked at 83mins
• 3TagliaficoBooked at 80mins
• 7PereyraSubstituted forAgüeroat 45'minutes
• 5Paredes
• 20Lo Celso
• 16de PaulSubstituted forSuárezat 87'minutes
• 10Messi
• 22MartínezSubstituted forDi Maríaat 67'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Foyth
• 4Saravia
• 8Acuña
• 9Agüero
• 11Di María
• 12Marchesín
• 13Funes Mori
• 15Pizarro
• 18Rodríguez
• 19Suárez
• 21Dybala
• 23Musso

Paraguay

• 12Fernández
• 2PirisBooked at 55mins
• 15GómezBooked at 32mins
• 13Alonso
• 18Arzamendia
• 10GonzálezSubstituted forEscobarat 90'minutes
• 6Sánchez
• 8RojasBooked at 43mins
• 20Rojas
• 23AlmirónSubstituted forOrtízat 87'minutes
• 9SantanderSubstituted forRomeroat 72'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Silva
• 3Escobar
• 4Balbuena
• 5Valdez
• 7Cardozo
• 11Iturbe
• 14Torres
• 16Ortíz
• 17Pérez
• 19Domínguez
• 21Romero
• 22Aguilar

Referee:

Wilton Pereira Sampaio

Attendance:

35,265

Match Stats

Home TeamArgentinaAway TeamParaguay

Possession

Home56%

Away44%

Shots

Home7

Away10

Shots on Target

Home2

Away3

Corners

Home2

Away3

Fouls

Home20

Away19

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Argentina 1, Paraguay 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+8'

Second Half ends, Argentina 1, Paraguay 1.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Milton Casco (Argentina).

Posted at 90'+6'

Óscar Romero (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+5'

Offside, Argentina. Franco Armani tries a through ball, but Sergio Agüero is caught offside.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina).

Posted at 90'+4'

Óscar Romero (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt blocked. Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sergio Agüero.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt missed. Matías Rojas (Paraguay) left footed shot from more than 40 yards on the right wing misses to the left. Assisted by Iván Piris with a headed pass.

Posted at 90'+1'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Iván Piris (Paraguay).

Substitution

Posted at 90'

Substitution, Paraguay. Juan Escobar replaces Derlis González.

Posted at 89'

AttRead More – Source