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Lionel Messi's status in doubt for Argentina vs. Peru Copa America game in Miami Saturday

Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald on

Published in Soccer

The Canadians could edge Argentina for the group lead on goal differential, depending on the results of Saturday’s games. Argentina is on plus-three and Canada minus-one.

Messi, who has 12 goals and 13 assists in 12 games for Inter Miami so far this season, is scoreless in Argentina’s first two Copa America games. He had an assist in the 2-0 tournament opening win against Canada and has missed several scoring chances, including one that clanked off the outside of the post on Tuesday night.

Chilean defenders swarmed Messi the entire game, with two and often three players closing in on him in the final third of the field, making it difficult for him to find space to work his magic.

Chile, which had beaten Argentina on penalty kicks in back-to-back Copa America finals, was not intimidated by Messi and his teammates. The Chileans played physical, were called for 12 fouls and had two yellow cards. In the 24th minute, Gabriel Suazo fouled Messi from behind on the right touchline, and Messi called for the medical team. A trainer massaged his right adductor area for two to three minutes before play resumed.

“It was a well-deserved victory, the game was not easy, and it was won at the least expected moment as it seemed to be getting away from us,” Scaloni said of Lautaro Martinez’s 88th-minute game-winning goal. “But the team continued to believe, and continued to attack. Chile has been a very tough opponent for us. They are working very well, Ricardo (Gareca) is doing a great job.”

 

Chile and Peru are in third place in Group A through two games with one point apiece. Chile plays Canada on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando.

How to Watch Argentina vs. Peru

Kickoff is at 8 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.. The game will be show on FS1 in English and on Univision in Spanish.


©2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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