After a disappointing start at the beginning of the tournament, Argentina delivered a much-improved performance to beat Venezuela 2-0 in the Copa America quarter-finals on Friday.
Following the victory, the Argentines have set up a mouthwatering last-four meeting with Brazil.
Striker Lautaro Martinez scored for the second game running to put Argentina in front in the 10th minute with a clever back-heeled finish, diverting in a shot from Sergio Aguero following a corner swung in by captain Lionel Messi.
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Lionel Scaloni’s side had to weather a series of attacks from Venezuela in the second half and it took a strong save from Franco Armani to prevent Ronald Hernandez from levelling.
Substitute Giovani Lo Celso scored Argentina’s badly-needed second goal in the 74th minute, passing a loose ball into an empty net after another shot from Aguero squirmed through the hands of Venezuela goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez. (Reporting by Richard Martin Editing by Toby Davis).
Reuters
