Taking a two-goal lead in 27 minutes was such a surprise.
In a knockout match like the America's Cup, if you can get a 2-0 lead, your probability of winning is basically very high. Just look at Argentina's victory in the last round after leading Colombia only 1-0.
Moreover, Messi, whom everyone admires the most, assisted and scored twice and was directly involved in these two goals.
So the fans were very excited, cheering enthusiastically in the stands and in front of the televisions.
Pastore, who scored the goal, and several teammates also ran to the sidelines and stood in a row, dancing casually for a few seconds, which attracted another round of warm applause from the fans in the stands.
This time, the players' celebrations were not as exciting as the first goal. After all, it has been celebrated once.
Moreover, as players on the field, they could also feel that Paraguay was indeed powerless and unable to stop Argentina's attack.
This certainly won't be Argentina's last goal.
Sure enough, although Argentina slowed down its offensive pace, Paraguay, which was two goals behind, was still unable to mount a decent counterattack and was unable to threaten Argentina's goal.
Until the 42nd minute, Paraguay had only shot three times, and none of them hit the door frame. Such data is really tragic.
As for Argentina, in the 42nd minute, Velarde completed a series of passes, cuts and runs with Mascherano, Messi and Aguero in the middle, tearing open Paraguay's defense and making a wonderful pass into the penalty area. From the left rib, he assisted Di Maria to score a volley, extending the score to 3-0.
"Goooooooooooooooooooooal..."
"The ball went in again!"
"It was Di Maria who scored the goal and Alan Willard who provided the assist."
"Paraguay's state in this game was really bad. There was no threat in attack. Velarde, whose job is to defend, had nothing to do. He could only go forward to participate in the attack. As a result, he delivered an amazing performance of passing and shooting. .”
"Argentina is already leading 3-0 and is basically guaranteed to win."
"With the current state that Paraguay is showing, it is completely impossible to score three goals in a row. Even if it equalizes the score and enters overtime, Paraguay has no chance of winning."
"Whether it is technology or physical fitness, as well as overall strength and condition, Argentina is in the lead."
"Paraguay basically lost."
Paraguay also knew that they were on the verge of being eliminated. They made a desperate counterattack in the remaining minutes of the first half and finally completed a shot that hit the goal frame.
But it was of no use. Although forward Nelson Valdez's volley from outside the penalty area was good, the angle was too right and was directly hugged by goalkeeper Sergio Romero. No chance was left to the other party.
Soon, the referee blew the whistle to end the first half, and the two sides entered the halftime break with a score of 3-0, with Argentina leading by three goals.
After a 15-minute rest, the two sides changed sides and fought again in the second half. Paraguay replaced two players in a row, strengthened its attack, and wanted to counterattack.
They have good fighting spirit, after all, they defeated Brazil in the last round. But sometimes, the body reaches its limit and the fighting spirit cannot be used.
The midfield composed of Velarde, Mascherano and Pastore often made Paraguay's offense in vain. Even if he occasionally reaches Argentina's penalty area through passing passes, it is difficult to get shooting opportunities against experienced players such as Demichelis, Otamendi, and Zabaleta.
Even if the shot is finally completed, there is still Romero in front of the goal!
Therefore, Paraguay's offense in the second half also did not achieve much results.
On the other hand, Argentina, as long as it gets the ball and counterattacks, Paraguay will be in chaos.
In the 63rd minute, Paraguayan winger Vernes Gonzalez was pressed by Mascherano while advancing with the ball. When he wanted to pass the ball diagonally to forward Santa Cruz, Velarde saw through the pass. With intention, he suddenly grabbed the ball and intercepted the ball in front of Santa Cruz.
After stealing the ball, Velarde passed the ball to the responding center back Demichelis, and then moved forward at high speed. After receiving Demichelis' through ball, he continuously broke through midfielder Victor Cáceres, Richard Ortiz dribbled the ball outside the penalty area about 25 meters away from the goal. He looked up and saw goalkeeper Villar standing a little to the right. Velarde immediately bent his bow and nocked an arrow, running. Zhong swung his right foot and hit a powerful and heavy long-range shot.
With a physique of 90%, skills of 87% and shooting ability of 87%, Velarde's long-range shot made waves in the world. It was powerful, fast and had a tricky angle, and it went straight to the lower left corner of the goal against the turf.
The goalkeeper Villar, who was standing slightly to the right, saw Willard's shot, but he immediately judged the path of the ball and pounced sideways to the left side of the goal.
However, the ball was too fast and the angle was too tricky. Villar's save fell far short, and in the end he could only watch the ball fly into the goal against the post.
Velarde scored twice for the second time in his career, helping Argentina expand the score to 4-0, completely killing the suspense of the game.
Crisna, Alyssa, Bertha, Desia and others hugged each other in the stands, and together with the surrounding Argentine fans, cheered wildly for Velarde's two goals and Argentina's four-goal lead.
Velarde himself was very happy and rushed to the sideline with open arms to meet the applause and cheers of the Argentinian fans in the stands and enjoy the joy after scoring.
4-0, Argentina has already won. The next game became Argentina's offensive and defensive drill. Although Paraguay tried their best to concede fewer goals, they still failed to stop Argentina's onslaught.
In the 67th minute, Messi passed two people and then shot from the front of the penalty area at a slightly positive angle but was saved by the goalkeeper. However, Aguero had quick eyes and quick feet and grabbed the second spot and shot the ball into the goal.
Argentina 5-0 Paraguay.
In the 72nd minute, Aguero shot again after receiving a pass from Pastore in the penalty area, but was saved by the goalkeeper and only received a corner kick.
But in this corner kick, Velard headed Di Maria's corner kick into Paraguay's goal. Argentina 6-0 Paraguay.
Velarde scored his first career hat-trick, and his number of goals in this America's Cup has reached 5, rising to the top of the scorer list.
A defensive midfielder ranks first in the scorer list. This is really an unexpected scene.
Even Velard himself was overjoyed. He rushed to the sidelines and knelt down to celebrate his first career hat-trick, and it was in an important event like the America's Cup.
When the game got to this point, it was a complete one-sided massacre.
But the massacre in Argentina has not stopped yet.
In the 83rd minute, Messi brought the ball out like a flea in the crowd, and then assisted substitute Higuain to score, extending the score to 7-0. Moreover, Messi also scored a hat trick of assists.
It was not until the 88th minute that Paraguay scored a face-saving goal from striker Santa Cruz after Argentina's slightly deliberate release.
In the end, Argentina defeated Paraguay 7-1 in the Copa America semi-finals and advanced to the final. Velarde scored his first career hat-trick and topped the scorer list. It is entirely possible to win the Golden Boot (top scorer) in this America's Cup.
