3️⃣ things we learned as Argentina find a way past Ecuador

Argentina are semi-final bound as they snuck past Ecuador on penalties in the Copa América quarter-final.

Here are our takeaways from the showdown in Houston.

The impenetrable object

Emiliano Martínez may just be the best penalty-shootout keeper we’ve seen at this level of football.

The Aston Villa man came up trumps for his side once again in the shootout Thursday evening, making two consecutive saves to win the game for the world champions.

Not only did the Argentine keeper make the big stops, but he pulled out his usual antics in the process, dancing in front of the crowd with each passing save.

It’s those antics that may be the legacy left by the man they call Dibu, but when the moment is the biggest, Martínez owns his goal.

They gave themselves the chance

For just a moment it looked as if it was going to be Ecuador’s night. Just minutes after the dramatic stoppage-time equalizer, Leo Messi saw his panenka attempt bounce off the crossbar and fall behind the goal.

Yet the Ecuadorian penalty-takers could not find a way to capitalize on the momentum and find a way past the brick wall in the Argentine net.

Just finding a way out of a tough Group B was an accomplishment for this side, and they can leave the tournament with their heads held high after giving the champions a run for their money.

But with that sentiment put to the side, they may always feel that they missed a golden opportunity to make history.

Quiet but not needed

It’s no secret that Lionel Messi has relatively quiet for Argentina at the tournament this summer, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t contributing.

With just one assist and no goals scored through three games played so far, Messi has not been the catalyst for his side’s victories — but does that really matter?

The likes of Lautaro Martínez and Emiliano Martínez have stepped up with the big goals and saves, leaving a potentially injured Messi to play a different role for his side than we are used to seeing.

However, nobody will be sleeping on the great man. He will surely remind us all why his one of the all-time greats before the tournament is over.