00:00William Alvarez starting up front once again. He just has one goal in this tournament to make no mistake
00:05This is the biggest game and Shaffer Berg has a goal and an assist for the Canadians
00:10We've only scored two goals so far in this tournament and make no mistake
00:13This is the biggest game in Canadian men's soccer history. It's appearances as you saw in the pregame
00:18They won the Gold Cup of 2000 again across the continent
00:22This is as big a stage as Canada's men of all time. It is warm. It is humid
00:29We are
00:30It is hard to control and even that was the case
00:34last Thursday in Houston against Ecuador until it wasn't and they scored in stoppage time and they very nearly
00:40Before Argent being sent off. They scored just one goal, but it was enough in the win
00:44the power flips it was Alvarez
00:49And the hunger of Tagliafico there was impressive for Argentina on a heavily watered pitch
01:00The game's begun well for the neutral has been really good watch so far at MetLife Stadium
01:08I have the World Cup final here in two years
01:14Johnston header on there for Carl Larrin now Richie Larea for Canada
01:22They've unsettled Argentina so far the way they've gone about this Canada
01:27A2 be the one to pack the punch and he's done precisely that in the game's 23rd minute
01:35De Pal makes it and Alvarez took this wonderfully
01:42He scored to break their hearts in the first game on match day one in Atlanta and now at MetLife Stadium
01:49The semi-finals first goal is scored by Alvarez and by Argentina
01:56They jump for joy and they have a lead in the first half
02:03What a ball by De Pal to find him there first of all
02:08Alvarez his goal in the group game is first since the World Cup semi-final by the way for Argentina
02:13Again against Canada has done the damage for the Albi Celeste
02:23If you swing for the king you better not miss well the Canadians did miss their chances
02:28Argentina when they got warm they took it
02:33This is De Pal stopped by Bombito
02:37This is De Pal stopped by Bombito
02:44So Julien Alvarez with the first goal of this semi-final
02:49And the ominous things for Canada to think about here are the fact they don't concede goals
02:53Argentina since the World Cup 18 matches one defeat but 14 clean sheets
03:00Three here so far
03:02Only Kevin Rodriguez of Ecuador scored against him in their quarter-final
03:07Only goal which has gone by in the Martinez Sofa in Copa America 2024
03:16They can't lose their heads here the Canadians they have to keep their focus and keep doing what they were doing
03:21So well for so long in this first half
03:31In here by Alfonso Davies for Canada
03:36This is Alistair Johnston
03:41Richie Lerea
03:45Johnston's cross
03:47And two near to Emi Martinez
03:51And has his three
03:52The
03:55Neaton patriotic hairdo again today the flag
03:59Cut into the side of his head
04:04Goals in 54 last season across all competitions for Manchester City
04:09Often in Erling Haaland's shadow at club level but for Argentina
04:13And this being here through the legs of Maxime Crepeau
04:16No
04:21Give the good teams just one chance and they will stick it away
04:26As I say you swing for the king you better not miss
04:34And Alvarez certainly did not
04:39Canada has lots of ability about it doesn't it?
04:42That's a great ball for Di Maria for Argentina
04:45Di Maria
04:46Runs on here for Messi
04:48Messi still or Messi wide?
04:54Waiting for his first goal in this competition still Messi
04:58A man with 13 prior Copa America goals under his considerable belt
05:08Messi here twisting and turning like the Messi of old
05:11With a shot whipped beyond the post
05:15Goal
05:21In the wake of the quarter finals he calls Emi Martinez the best goalkeeper in the world
05:24He
05:25Rather than Messi
05:28Falls here for Montiel for Messi
05:33And Di Maria
05:36Di Maria still here
05:37De Pau
05:39It's Messi
05:40Messi's chip
05:45As the game wears on becoming more and more of a force in it here Lionel Messi
05:50Another attempt here which I think Crepeau had well covered
05:58Hold in here by Johnston
06:00Towards the head of Larry there's David who stole in
06:05Emi Martinez not for the first time
06:08Is Argentina's saviour
06:10Long throw here gave real problems and David snapping in there but
06:14Martinez makes the stop
06:16Goal so far by Alvarez in this semi-final
06:20The holders for now are on course but this is by no means a done deal yet
06:24Half time score it is Argentina
06:27For which these are the closing stats
06:29You can see the ball being bossed so far by
06:31This semi-final
06:33Behind him number 9 is Julian Alvarez
06:35The difference
06:36The difference
06:40Of the Canadian huddle
06:44The second half and underway at MetLife Stadium
06:48The lead for Argentina
06:51Goal by Alvarez who I think has won the free kick as well here
06:55In the first meeting it was a goal early in the second half from Alvarez which
07:00Opened up the Canadians in Atlanta 19 days ago
07:03He's won the free kick here in a good position
07:06In the second
07:17Ball clipped in here by Messi
07:20In the fall for Enzo Fernandez
07:21It will though fall here
07:23For Di Maria
07:27Ball turns over here
07:28The break is on for Schäffelberg
07:30Away from two players but the ball just out of play here before
07:34He could get clear
07:35Much to Jesse Marsh's displeasure
07:39He's going to try and bend it on top of him
07:41At the near post and Stocchio is there to head it away
07:45As we've seen about once a game Messi go for the Olympical goal
07:48That's the one thing he's
07:50Never done in his career
07:52Messi has it back off the throw
07:54In for De Paul able to turn
07:55No one there
07:56Cuts it back into the middle
07:57Kone first touch
07:58Holding his four
07:59As Gonzalez
08:00It's in
08:01It's Enzo Fernandez
08:02He puts it in
08:03Now Canada's arguing
08:05They want
08:07Offside on that
08:08Yeah it could be offside here on Messi
08:10We'll see
08:11At the end of this one
08:12Because I think Messi might get a slight touch on this
08:15As the shot comes in
08:16But as it stands
08:17Second goal for Argentina
08:18Great work from De Paul initially
08:21Let's see where all the players
08:22Does Cornelius step up just in time
08:24We'll get a better look from the 18 cam
08:26As we look down the line
08:27But just good work from Fernandez
08:29He has so much time and space here
08:31Just a little touch from Messi
08:32He doesn't even seem
08:33Entirely convinced at this point
08:36But wow
08:37How much time did Enzo Fernandez have
08:39In the box there
08:41To open up his hips
08:42And get that shot
08:44On the goal
08:45No pressure from Canada on the ball
08:47And it comes off them just playing the ball
08:49Down the side
08:51So here we go
08:52Let's run this one back
08:53Does Cornelius step up in time
08:55As that ball comes off
08:57Here
08:58No it looks pretty clear like not
09:00Let's see when it leaves his foot
09:02He recognized he was deep
09:03He was the man that had to stay with De Paul
09:05Now he's trying to quickly get out
09:07And get in line
09:08With that last defender as well
09:10They're gonna just
09:11Here's the goal again
09:12That was such a good turn by the way
09:13From Rodrigo De Paul
09:15And then a poor clearance from Kone
09:17But Enzo Fernandez did a good job
09:19Just keeping that on target
09:20Slightest of touches
09:22And ends up coming off of
09:23Maxime Kripos face
09:24At the end of that
09:25But even just that
09:26Misdirection there
09:28Was enough
09:29And made it so difficult for him
09:31He might have had a chance
09:32Because he'd anticipated
09:33To the left
09:35Not I'm sure
09:36Not the way Messi
09:37Knew what was happening
09:38Tried to draw Messi offside
09:39Couldn't get close enough
09:40To him to make the tackle
09:41And then Messi goes down
09:42Advantage gonna be played
09:43As Alvarez picks it up
09:45McAllister wanted it in the middle
09:47And now it's gonna come back
09:48For the foul
09:50That's so deflating
09:51For an opponent defensive team
09:53Trying to
09:54The ball's deep in Argentina's end
09:56They
09:57Lead out
09:58Trying to win the ball back
09:59With pressure
10:001-2 touch
10:01Boom, boom, boom, boom
10:02Get it out wide
10:03And
10:04Messi was looking for the 1-2
10:05Here with Rodrigo de Paul
10:06And then they had two players
10:07Wide open
10:08Julian Alvarez was on the near side
10:09Angel Di Maria
10:10Then on the far
10:15Once Bambito is down
10:19Back to his feet
10:201-4 for Maldonado
