Argentina blew Paraguay away with a 6-1 win in their Copa América semifinal at the Estadio Municipal in Concepción to earn a spot in the final versus Chile. Marcos Rojo, Javier Pastore, Sergio Agüero, Gonzalo Higuaín all scored and Ángel di María had a brace in what was a dominating performance from the Albiceleste.
Coach Gerardo Martino went with a starting XI of Sergio Romero in goal and a back four of Pablo Zabaleta, Martín Demichelis, Pablo Otamendi and Rojo. Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano and Pastore anchored the midfield while in attack it was Lionel Messi, Agüero and Di María.
Paraguay’s Roque Santa Cruz and Pastore each had chances inside the first 11 minutes, but neither were able to get a strong shot off. But in the 15th minute Argentina hit pay dirt, as a free kick swung into the area was not cleared by the Paraguayan defense, and Rojo was there to sweep in a shot to hand Argentina a 1-0 lead.
Martino’s men then made it 2-0 in the 27th minute, with Zabaleta playing a surgical ball into Pastore, who fired a shot past Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar. Making matters worse for Ramón Díaz’s men was the loss of two starters in the first half due to injury, with Derlis González and Santa Cruz each having to depart.
But just like in their group stage match, a 2-0 lead for Argentina versus Paraguay proved a dangerous thing, as the Guaraní mounted a comeback and halved the margin in the 42nd minute through Lucas Barrios. Otamendi carelessly gave a ball away, and Paraguay’s Valdez headed forward to Barrios who then unfurled a rocket that went searing past Romero.
Argentina came out with a purpose to start the second half, and in a flash they essentially put the match to bed with a pair of goals from Di María. The first of Fideo’s two came in the 47th minute, with Pastore feeding the former Real Madrid man, who struck from the left side. The second was set up by Messi, who weaved pass two Paraguay defenders before laying a pass off for Pastore. The shot from the PSG man was blocked, but it fell right to Di María who had an almost wide open net to slam in a shot. And make it a 4-1 lead.
The Albiceleste nearly made it five in the 68th minute thanks to the genius playmaking of Messi, via a wicked one-two combination with Pastore, only to be denied at the last moment by some last-ditch Paraguay defending.
Argentina were not to be denied though, and Agüero made it 5-1 by thumping in a header off a Di María cross in the 80th minute. Three minutes later it was Higuaín making it six for the Albiceleste who pounced on a loose ball in the Paraguay and fired in a shot while falling away from goal.
Argentina will now turn their attention to what will be a much-anticipated final on Saturday versus Chile.
