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Copa America: I just wanted to help Messi – Emi Martinez says after saving 2 penalties

Published

2 years ago

Copa America: I just wanted to help Messi – Emi Martinez says after saving 2 penalties

Argentina goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez has said that all he did was to help Lionel Messi when he saved some penalties during their Copa America quarter final clash against Ecuador.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper saved two penalties in his team’s penalty shootout against Ecuador, sending them to the semifinals of the competition.

La Albiceleste took the lead through Lisandro Martinez in the 35th minute before Ecuador levelled through Rodriguez in the injury-time.

Argentina won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time in the contest.

Messi missed Argentina’s first spot-kick in the shootout, but with Martinez saving two penalties, there was no cause for alarm.

The goalkeeper told reporters after the game as quoted by AlbicelesteTalk, “I owed it to Leo Messi, I owed it to him.

“He saved us in the [2022 FIFA] World Cup, he won it, he was the best of all in the World Cup, and when things don’t go his way… he was coming off a very strong injury in his adductor, and I felt like I had to help him when he missed the penalty.”