Argentina vs Ecuador LIVE Score and Commentary Copa America 2021

Lionel Messi scores Argentina's third goal against Ecuador with a free-kick from outside the box. (Image: Copa America)

FULL TIME: Argentina 3-0 Ecuador

Argentina struggled to keep the Ecuador charge at bay for most parts of the second half but the difference in quality between both the sides was evident as the Albiceleste scored three past Ecuador. Messi missed an earlier chance but set up the two goals for Nicolas Gonzalez and Lautaro Martinez before himself netting a world class free-kick.

Argentina will now face Colombia in the Copa America semi-finals on 7th July! Thanks for tuning into Sportskeeda's LIVE coverage of the Copa America 2021 semi-final between Argentina and Ecuador.

90+3' GOAAAAAL! Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Lionel Andre Messi fires in an clinical free-kick from outside the box and makes it 3-0 for Argentina. He has now scored 4 goals and created 4 goals for Argentina in the Copa America 2021. Absolute class.

90' Additional Time: 5 Minutes.

89' Hincapie is sent off for bringing down Di Maria as he was racing to a certain goal scoring opportunity and Argentina have a free-kick outside the box.

84' GOAAAAL! Lautaro Martinez (Argentina)

Messi outmuscles Hincapie and sets up Lautaro Martinez for the final shot inside the box who makes it 2-0 for Argentina with a clinical finish past Galindez.

84' Substitution for Ecuador: Leonardo Campana replaces Alan Franco.

83' Substitution for Argentina: Nicolas Tagliafico replaces Nicolas Gonzalez. A defensive change from Scaloni.

79' A quick passage of play from Argentina. Guido Rodriguez plays it wide to Nicolas Rodriguez who shoots over the target.

77' Argentina get a corner swung in after Lautaro Martinez lets a cross towards Messi whose shot takes a wild deflection. The corner is cleared for safety.

76' Messi hits the wall from the set-piece.

75' Rodrigo de Paul is brought down outside the Ecuador box and Messi has the opportunity to test Hernan Galidez at goal.

74' Substitution for Argentina: Angel Di Maria replaces Giovanni Lo Celso.

73' Substitution for Argentina: Guido Rodriguez replaces Leandro Parades.

71' Substitution for Ecuador: Moises Caicedo replaces Alan Franco.

69' Ecuador get in a series of corners from both sides of the goal but fail to crack open the Argentine defence. The Albicileste need to slow down the momentum of Ecuador and get more of the ball.

67' CLOSE! Angelo Preciado delivers in a swirling ball inside the Argentina box and it deflects off Nicolas Gonzalez' header and goes inches wide of the target. Argentina living dangerously here.

65' Messi gets in a delivery from a dropped ball near the Ecuador box. The delivery almost runs out to Leandro Paredes who fails to get the shot in and Hernan Galindez collects.

63' Pevis Estupinan goes into the referee's book for a challenge on Rodrigo de Paul.

62' Ecuador asking all sorts of questions of the Argentina central defence. Alan Franco finds Diego Palacios with a through ball between the central defence and Palacios hits the side netting from an acute angle.

60' Substitution for Ecuador:

OUT - Diego Palacios
IN - Michael Estrada.

59' Substitution for Ecuador:

OUT - Carlos Gruezo
IN - Gonzalo Plata.

54' Both teams are yet to settle down in the second half and are mostly playing out aimless long balls from either ends to no result.

49' Lionel Messi makes a quick run down the left and sets up Nicolas Gonzalez for the shot outside the box, but the final attempt is skyrocketed off target.

46' Second-half kicks-off.

CLASE RECONOCE CLASE
De Paul👉 Messi #VibraElContinente #CopaAmérica pic.twitter.com/MeD494rmgU
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) July 4, 2021

HALF TIME: Argentina 1-0 Ecuador

Ecuado's brave resistance is finally broken with a Rodrigo De Paul goal as Argentina have a slender one goal lead in the break. Ecuador have had scoring chances as well but lack conviction in front of goal.

45' Additioal Time: 4 Minutes.

43' Another huge chance! Messi sends a free-kick into the box and Nico González gets his head to it but Galíndez makes the save, and then pulls off a miracle on the González rebound!

40' GOAAAAAL! Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina)

Nicolas Gomez is clear on goal with a darting run and Hernan Galindez comes off his line. The goalkeeper mistimes his run and Messi gets the ball with his feet and finds Rodrigo De Paul on the far side who slots it home into an empty net. Argentina up 1-0.

38' CLOSE! Ecuador have a patient build up. Diego Palacios swings in an inch perfect cross from the left to find Angel Mena who has an empty net to tap the ball home but hits the side netting.

36' Angel Mena whips in a low ball from a set-piece and hits the side netting of the Argentina goal.

34' Nicolas Gonzalez is booked for a challenge on Angelo Preicado inside the Ecuador half.

32' Messi delivers in a free-kick inside the box from the resultant free-kick but the Bolivians clear their lines with a sturdy defensive header.

30' Alan Franco is the only one who gets booked for the challenge on Lo Celso.

29' Alan Franco clashes into Carlos Gruezo as both the midfielders try to challenge Giovanni Lo Celso in the midfield. Both the midfielders are down injured and need medical assistance.

27' Rodrigo Paul tries to find Nicolas Gomez with a cross-field ball but it runs out of play.

25' SAVE! End to end action here in Golana. Bolivia break on counter and Jhegson Mendes dispatches a belter of a half volley on the Argentina goal and Emiliano Martinez makes a routine save to deny the Bolivian.

23' POST! Messi gets on the break after Carlos Gruezo gives the ball away dangerously in their own half to the Argentine number 10. Messi has all the time in the world to place it perfectly into the back of the net but hits the right goalpost and the ball comes back into play and Hernan Galindez collects with a profound sigh of relief.

19' Argentina playing it among themselves at the back, looking for an opening. The Bolivians are quite high up the pitch looking for a break.

17' Messi's corner finds Leandro Parades who takes it with his chest and has a half volley scuffed on the side netting.

15' Lionel Messi takes a shot on goal with his weaker foot. The shot hits Piero Hincapie's arms en route to the goal. The VAR has a check on a possible penalty check and decides that the hand ball was unintentional.

13' Ecuador with a decent passage of play. Carlos Gruezo bursts in counter and sets up Diego Palacios for the final ball into the box but his pass outward to Enner Valencia is out of play.

11' Preciado is back on the pitch after an emergency bandage to his wrist. Game resumes.

9' Nicolas Otamendi is penalised for a foul on Angelo Preciado. The Bolivian medics are on the pitch to provide assistant to the injured right-back.

7' Ecuador have a corner of their own swung in from the left and the Argentine defence clear the danger away.

5' Leandro Parades finds Lautaro Martinez with a through ball, whose shot on goal is saved by Hernan Galindez.

3' Argentina get a short corner taken with Rodrigo de Paul passing to Messi whose cross with the right foot is cleared away by the Ecuador defence.

1' KICK-OFF! Argentina get us underway in their traditional Blue and White Stripes. Ecuador have donned their yellow and blue stripes.

The teams sing the National Anthem loud and proud in an empty Estadio Olimpico Pedro, we are set for kick-off.