Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) kicks the ball away from United States defender Geoff Cameron (20) during Tuesday’s Copa America semifinal.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) kicks the ball away from United States defender Geoff Cameron (20) during Tuesday’s Copa America semifinal.

Messi leads Argentina to 4-0 victory over U.S. in Copa semifinal

HOUSTON — Lionel Messi pretty much ended the United States’ Copa America hopes in less than three minutes.

Argentina’s diminutive dribbling, scoring machine showed the skills, speed and brilliance that have made him a five-time world player of the year, exposing the huge gap between the U.S. and soccer’s elite.

Messi set up Ezequiel Lavezzi’s opening goal 175 seconds in, scored on a free kick to break Argentina’s career scoring record and assisted on the second of Gonzalo Higuain’s two goals in a 4-0 rout Tuesday night that put La Albiceleste into the Copa America final.

“We got outplayed badly by a very good team,” U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said. “Today is a good day to judge where we are in program overall. We’re obviously a long way off.”

Messi flicked the ball over the defense to an open Lavezzi for the opener, then doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with his 55th international goal, his tournament-leading fifth, Higuain added goals in the 50th and 86th minutes, the latter off a Messi pass.

Argentina had 67 percent possession and outshot the U.S. 9-0.

“Once we were 1-nil down, we had far too much respect,” U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “After that early goal, I think just that our players could just feel that they are just probably in every position on the field just better than we are.”

U.S. players seemed shocked after their largest margin of defeat in a competitive match since a 5-0 loss to Mexico in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. While saying he respected Klinsmann’s opinion, U.S. captain Michael Bradley also said: “Please don’t make it out to be anything like that.”

Argentina seeks its first major title since the 1993 Copa — and its first since Messi’s debut in 2005 — on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, against winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Chile and Colombia.

“We deserve it, for all the good work we’ve been doing all these years,” Messi said.

Argentina might be missing Lavezzi, who fell backward over an advertising sign board and appeared to land hard on his left arm at about the 63rd minute. Lavezzi was able to get up several minutes later and left on a cart.

Hosting a special, expanded 16-nation edition of South America’s championship to celebrate Copa America’s 100th anniversary, the U.S. won a difficult group that included third-ranked Colombia and then beat No. 13 Ecuador in the quarterfinals. But top-ranked Argentina and Messi, who turns 29 Friday and is at the top of his game, stunned the No. 31 U.S. and the sellout crowd of 70,858 at NRG Stadium.

“It’s some of his angles and his spurts and just going from a walk to an absolute sprint,” U.S. midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. “You try to do what you can to stop him, but once he gets going, it’s hard.”

The U.S. closes its tournament Saturday in the third-place match at Glendale, Arizona.

Messi will try to fill a major gap in his resume. He has helped Barcelona win eight titles in Spain’s La Liga and four in the Champions League, but his Argentina trophies have been limited to the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship for players under 20 and the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, mostly for players under 23. La Albiceleste lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final and to Chile in last year’s Copa America final.

Klinsmann inserted Beckerman and midfielder Graham Zusi into his lineup along with forward Chris Wondolowski because of suspensions assessed to midfielders Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya, and forward Bobby Wood.

Argentina went ahead when Lavezzi played a short corner kick to Ever Banega, who passed back to Lavezzi sprinting from the corner diagonally. Lavezzi beat Fabian Johnson to the ball and poked it to an unmarked Messi about 25 yards out, in the center of the field. As the U.S. defense started to come out, Messi one-timed a flick with his left foot over the back line to Lavezzi, who headed the ball from 7 yards over goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Klinsmann tried to steady his players.

“You were trying to scream into the field, saying, ‘Go at them. Go. Become physical. Just step on their toes,’” he recalled.

Messi doubled the lead after he was fouled by Wondolowski. Klinsmann yelled at Paraguayan referee Eduardo Cardozo as Messi placed the ball about 26 yards out, closer than the spot of the foul.

“If it’s 5 yards back, he’s not shooting the same ball,” Klinsmann said. “We’re just too nice then in those moments.”

Messi bent a beautiful curving drive that went just over Guzan’s outstretched left palm and into the upper corner. Hemoved one ahead Gabriel Batistuta’s career total, according to the Argentine Football Association. However, FIFA records Batistuta’s total as 56, including two goals in an exhibition against Slovakia in June 1995.

Higuain made it 3-0 when he burst past John Brooks for Lavezzi’s pass, one-timed a shot that Guzan stopped and poked in the rebound. He got the final goal after second-half sub Steve Birnbaum gave the ball away to Messi about 35 yards from the goal.

“We let them in into a flow, and we weren’t physical enough,” U.S. defender Geoff Cameron said. “I think we respected them a little too much.”

Notes: The U.S. dropped to 2-9-1 against top-ranked teams. … A bare-chested male fan ran onto the field as the second half was about to start, and he was tackled by security, and another spectator ran onto the field after the final whistle and got within 5 feet of Messi.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.