Copa America Results 2015: Argentina vs. Paraguay Score, Updated Event Fixtures
Argentina knew they had an entire country rooting for their failure. So they sent a message that it'll take much more than boos to send them packing.
Lionel Messi had three assists, Angel Di Maria scored two goals, and four others found the back of the net as the Argentines turned in a dominant all-around performance to earn a 6-1 win over Paraguay in their Copa America semifinal.
Messi assisted on both first-half goals, setting up Marcos Rojo and Javier Pastore. Di Maria netted both of his goals early in the second half, helping extend Argentina's lead beyond reproach. Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain also found the back of the net to cap by far the biggest win of the knockout stage.
Argentina move on to play host Chile in Saturday's final. The win helps Argentina extend their record finals appearances to 27, and they will attempt to match Uruguay for the most Copa America titles in history (15, including Southern America championship trophies). Argentina last won the Copa America in 1993, though they were the runner-up in two of the last three events.
A rematch of a 2-2 draw during group play, Argentina set the tone from the outset to make sure there would be no repeat. Pushing an aggressive and efficient attack early, Rojo put the Argentines on the board first in the 15th minute. Rojo was in the right place at the right time as Messi's set-piece cross landed at his feet and he slid to the ground to send a left-footed boot past Justo Villar.
Messi was on the assist for Argentina's second goal, a far more standard affair knocked through by Pastore in the 27th minute. The four-time Ballon d'Or recipient found the slightest crease and hit a streaking Pastore going toward the net, who then finished the job with a low right-footed strike.
Argentina will hope the assists are enough to get Messi going before the final. Messi, who is considered by many the best player in the world, has been misfiring around goal throughout the Copa America. Argentina were the lowest-scoring team in the semifinals despite having Messi and Aguero on the roster.
"It's terrible what it's costing me to get a goal," Messi said this week, per Reuters, via the National.
Luckily, Argentina appear to be finding their rhythm at the perfect time.
After Lucas Barrios netted a goal in the 43rd minute to bring Paraguay within a goal going into the half, Di Maria quickly ensured no comeback bid would be happening. The Manchester United winger finished off a sensational through ball from Pastore in the 47th minute and was standing in the right place following the deflection of a Pastore shot six minutes later.
Like Messi, confidence has been the main issue for Di Maria for a while now. Brought in from Real Madrid before last season, Di Maria struggled to come into his own in what became a lost campaign at Old Trafford. His strong play in Tuesday's match already has United fans changing their tune about possibly selling low:
If his two goals weren't enough, Di Maria added an assist while getting Aguero on the board in the 80th minute. Di Maria hit a beautiful left-footed cross across the pitch and right to a waiting Aguero, who headed it in to make the score 5-1.
| Chile vs. Argentina | 4 p.m. ET |
Messi added his third assist of the night on Higuain's goal three minutes later. For once, Argentina were the recipient of good luck on that play, as Messi fell down as he was sending off a weak pass that somehow found its way to Higuain.
Argentina finished the match with 10 of their 15 shots going on goal, a sign they're going to be a tough test for the Chileans. The crowd will undoubtedly be rocking Saturday night, but if Argentina found their offense, it might be a long 90 minutes for the hosts in the final.
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