Argentina 1-1 Ecuador: Player ratings as Emiliano Martinez saves Lionel Messi and Argentina from a shocking upset

Argentina's unbeaten run continues at Copa America 2024 after more heroics from Emiliano Martinez in a penalty shootout no one saw coming.

Argentina were the first team to punch their ticket to the Copa America 2024 quarter-finals, comfortably finishing atop of Group A with all nine possible points. Lionel Messi did not play La Albiceleste's last fixture against Peru after suffering a minor groin injury in the match prior, but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner recovered in time to get the start tonight alongside Lautaro Martinez. The striker earned his start up top after bagging four goals in the group stage.

How the game unfolded

The game got off to cagey start. Neither side enjoyed long spells of possession and plenty of fouls disrupted the flow of the game for the opening ten minutes. Ecuador settled down first, though, testing Emiliano Martinez with two decent chances created by the speed of Moises Caicedo. Sloppy giveaways prevented Argentina from getting anything going in the final third; La Albiceleste did not register their first shot until 27 minutes into the first half, and it was not even on target.

No matter how disjointed of a start Argentina had, it only takes one moment for Lionel Messi to strike. The captain found Alexis Mac Allister at the near post with a well taken corner, and the Liverpool midfielder flicked it on to an unmarked Lisandro Martinez at the back post for an easy header to go up 1-0 in the 35th minute. As soon as La Albiceleste got on the scoresheet, they dominated the rest of the half, comfortably maintaining possession and controlling the game's tempo before retreating to the locker room.

Argentina seemed content to sit back and defend in the opening stages of the second half, allowing Ecuador to regain their footing in the match. La Tri's pressure paid off; they were awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute for a handball against Rodrigo De Paul. Enner Valencia stepped up to take the penalty, and even sent Martinez the wrong way, but he hit the post, keeping Argentina's lead safe.

The final 30 minutes of the match unfolded without many noteworthy moments or chances for either side. Argentina looked like they had the win until the 91st minute. Nico Gonzalez went down in his own half, but Ecuador continued forward, taking a quick free kick. John Yeboah played a left-footed cross into the box that found the head of Kevin Rodriguez for the late game equalizer.

Without extra time, the match went straight to a penalty shootout. Messi stepped up first and attempted a panenka that hit the top of the crossbar and went over the net. Emiliano Martinez stepped up for his captain, though, saving Ecuador's first two penalties. Meanwhile, Julian Alvarez, Mac Allister, Gonzalo Montiel, and Nicolas Otamendi all buried their penalties, sending Argentina to the semifinals with a 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout.

Argentina player ratings vs Ecuador (4-4-2)

GK: Emiliano Martínez - 9/10 - Martinez might have conceded his first goal of the tournament, but the keeper came up huge in the penalty shootout, saving two of Ecuador's four shots.

RB: Nahuel Molina - 5/10 - Molina struggled to keep up with Moises Caicedo and failed to contribute on the attack.

CB: Cristian Romero - 6/10 - Romero came up huge for his team in the early stages of the match, making several last ditch tackles to keep Ecuador at bay.

CB: Lisandro Martínez - 7/10 - Martinez has been brilliant at the back for Argentina all tournament, and the defender continued his elite form against Ecuador, locking down Enner Valencia. Martinez also scored his first career goal for La Albiceleste.

LB: Nicolas Tagliafico - 5/10 - Tagliafico was virtually nonexistent tonight. The left-back tried to link up with Nico Gonzalez, but sloppy touches let him down.

RM: Rodrigo De Paul - 5/10 - De Paul conceded the penalty that could have gotten Ecuador back into the game. His lack of vision in the final third also contributed to Argentina's stagnant attack.

CM: Enzo Fernandez - 5/10 - Fernandez had a couple solid scoring opportunities in the first half, but failed to make the most of them. Ultimately, the Chelsea man struggled to find his footing in the midfield.

CM: Alexis Mac Allister - 8/10 - Mac Allister was easily Argentina's best midfielder tonight, always tracking back to win his side the ball, even putting his body on the line to do so. He also assisted Martinez's goal and scored in the penalty shootout.

LM: Nico Gonzalez - 5/10 - Gonzalez was the only real surprise in Lionel Scaloni's XI tonight, and the midfielder failed to make an impression. He lacked chemistry with Tagliafico and was overall quite ineffective.

CF: Lionel Messi - 5/10 - Messi recovered from his injury in time to start tonight, but the Inter Miami man found it hard to get on the ball for most of the match. His perfectly played corner, though, led to Argentina's only goal, but then he missed Argentina's first penalty tonight.

ST: Lautaro Martinez - 5/10 - After his electric performances in the group stage, Martinez got nothing going tonight. He pressed the Ecuadorian backline well, but ultimately, failed to leave his mark on the game.

Substitutes

SUB: Julian Alvarez - 6/10 - Alvarez was active up top from the moment he came on the pitch, and scored a crucial penalty after Messi's miss.

SUB: Giovanni Lo Celso - 5/10 - Lo Celso only played 12 minutes tonight, earning a standard five.

SUB: Nicolas Otamendi - 6/10 - Otamendi was brought on in the 78th minute for extra height to defend against Ecuador's crosses and long balls, but La Tri scored anyway. The center-back scored the winner in the penalty shootout, though, to send Argentina to the semifinals.

SUB: Gonzalo Montiel - N/A - Montiel came on in the 95th minute and scored a penalty in the shootout.

Manager

Lionel Scaloni - 6/10 - Lionel Scaloni's squad lacked intensity and invention against Ecuador. Lautaro Martinez and Nico Gonzalez both started tonight, but they were rather aimless in the final third, lacking a quality that the front three of Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi, and Angel Di Maria almost always provide.

If Emiliano Martinez had not come up huge for La Albiceleste in the penalty shootout, Scaloni and his squad could have easily exited the competition tonight.