Copa America 2020 Group C: Argentine Martínez Solitary Goal against Bermuda

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Argentine Martínez Solitary Goal against Bermuda

June 25, 2020

Argentina 1 Bermuda 0

 

Argentina brought Lautero Martínez into the fray and he proved the difference against Bermuda.

 

Bermuda needed to swap Crichlow out for his red card, while Lejaun Simmons needed to start on the bench for the second match of the tournament.

 

Razir Smith-Jones, who came in for Simmons, had the first ping on goal, though it flew straight to Franco Armani. Jordan Outerbridge also had a shot from in front of goal go wide of the mark.

 

Rodrigo de Paul had Argentina’s first shot, resulting in a corner. The match soon became a stalemate until Lionel Messi opened the Bermudan defence and set up Martínez for the perfect tap in goal in the 34th minute.

 

Smith-Jones nearly replied in the following minute as Armani dived to keep out his right-foot shot. However, Argentina kept their one-goal lead at the break.

 

Messi and Martínez nearly set up de Paul for Argentina’s second, only for Dale Eve to make the crucial save. Eve then saved Messi’s first ping at goal. De Paul’s header off the resulting corner missed the mark. Defender Federico Fazio’s header later needed blocking from multiple Bermudan defenders.

 

Late in the match, Eve saved a second Messi shot late in the match as Argentina played in a measured manner, knowing a single goal would be enough. Substitutes Exequiel Palacios, Sergio Agüero and Ángel Correa all had one last shot, only to miss the mark.

 

Still, Argentina came away with the necessary three points.

 

Argentina might bring in Gonzalez into the fray, while Di Maria will have a rest on the bench.

 

Bermuda will hope to start Cecoy Robinson at right midfield.