Argentina Overpowers USA in Copa America Centenario

By Francisco Romero

The United States Men’s National Team had a chance to prove that they are a team to reckon with in soccer, but Argentina was just too much to overcome.

Lionel Messi and his clan entertained 70,858 fans at NRG Stadium in Houston with a 4-0 beating aginst the U.S.

Argentina lost no time in scoring as Ezequiel Lavezzi headed the first goal at the third minute of the game.

The United States tried to no avail; they fought back, but could not find the end of the net.

Messi scored for Argentina at 32nd minute of play to make the score 2-0 after winning a free kick in the center of the field 27 yards from the U.S. goal.

Gonzalo Higuain scored at the 50^th minute of play on a counter attack and Huguain scored again in the 86^th minute of play with an assist from Messi for the final score of 4-0.

The U.S. MNT continues the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the Third Place match against the loser between Colombia and Chile, who play on Wednesday night in the competition’s other Semifinal at 7 p.m. CT in Chicago. The Third Place match will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on June 25 at 8 p.m. ET.

For Messi, it doesn’t matter who wins Wednesday night, “Whomever is our rival it will be a difficult task and we have to be prepared for the game,” said Messi during a postgame interview in Houston. “It gives us another opportunity to represent Argentina and continue our quest to win it all.”

On a positive note for the United States, seventeen-year-old winger Christian Pulisic saw his second shift of the tournament, coming on at halftime.