Match ends, Venezuela 0, Argentina 2.
VenezuelaVenezuela0ArgentinaArgentina2
Argentina set up a tantalising Copa America semi-final against hosts Brazil after easing past Venezuela 2-0.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was involved in both goals as Argentina aim for their third straight final.
Aguero's low drive was flicked in by Lautaro Martinez and goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez then spilled the striker's shot for Giovani Lo Celso to tap home.
Venezuela created very little and Ronald Hernandez saw his shot from close range kept out by Franco Armani.
In fact, that was Venezuela's only shot on target with River Plate goalkeeper Armani redundant for much of the game, though he did prove to be an effective aerial presence.
Lionel Scaloni's side will play Brazil in Mineirao at 01:30 BST on Wednesday after the tournament hosts edged past Paraguay on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
Though he was largely quiet against Venezuela, captain Lionel Messi will take heart from knowing Argentina are one win away from another Copa America final.
They have been beaten on the past two occasions on penalties by Chile and lost in the final in four of the past five tournaments.
Argentina were the better side in a fragmented game not helped by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan handing out six yellow cards and stopping play on a number of occasions to consult about incidents with the video assistant referee.
Inter Milan striker Martinez should have had two goals in the game, but struck the outside of the post in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, while substitute Angel di Maria curled straight at Farinez late on.
Line-ups
Venezuela
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Fariñez
- 20Hernández
- 4Chancellor
- 14Del PinoSubstituted forSoteldoat 56'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 16RosalesSubstituted forSeijasat 83'minutes
- 5Moreno
- 15Murillo
- 6HerreraBooked at 15mins
- 8RincónBooked at 12mins
- 7MachísSubstituted forMartínezat 71'minutes
- 23RondónBooked at 44mins
Substitutes
- 3Osorio
- 9Aristeguieta
- 10Savarino
- 11Añor
- 12Graterol
- 13Seijas
- 17Martínez
- 18Soteldo
- 21Feltscher
- 22Romo
Argentina
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Armani
- 2Foyth
- 6Pezzella
- 17Otamendi
- 3Tagliafico
- 5Paredes
- 16de Paul
- 8AcuñaBooked at 42minsSubstituted forLo Celsoat 68'minutes
- 10Messi
- 9AgüeroSubstituted forDybalaat 85'minutes
- 22La MartínezBooked at 16minsSubstituted forDi Maríaat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Saravia
- 7Pereyra
- 11Di María
- 12Marchesín
- 13Funes Mori
- 14Casco
- 15Pizarro
- 18Rodríguez
- 19Suárez
- 20Lo Celso
- 21Dybala
- 23Musso
- Referee:
- Wilmar Alexander Roldán Pérez
- Attendance:
- 50,094
Match Stats
Home TeamVenezuelaAway TeamArgentina
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away7
- Corners
- Home8
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Venezuela 0, Argentina 2.
Booking
Yeferson Soteldo (Venezuela) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Yangel Herrera (Venezuela).
Post update
Paulo Dybala (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Tomás Rincón (Venezuela) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Paulo Dybala (Argentina).
Post update
Corner, Venezuela. Conceded by Rodrigo de Paul.
Post update
Hand ball by Ángel Di María (Argentina).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ángel Di María (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ángel Di María (Argentina) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Paulo Dybala.
Post update
Foul by Tomás Rincón (Venezuela).
Post update
Ángel Di María (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Argentina. Paulo Dybala replaces Sergio Agüero.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Salomón Rondón (Venezuela) header from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Júnior Moreno with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Venezuela. Luis Seijas replaces Roberto Rosales because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Venezuela. Conceded by Germán Pezzella.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Salomón Rondón (Venezuela) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Salomón Rondón (Venezuela) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Germán Pezzella (Argentina).
Comments
Join the conversation
4 hours ago
Eventually UEFA they will run out of nonsensensical cups to create in order to garner income
This is a South American tournament , nothing to do with UEFA . It is run by CONMEBOL .
'Too much football'
I'm inclined to agree but being force fed womens football or an imminent 2 weeks of middle England bile called Wimbledon and its twee niceness . . . I'll take the footy.
Because it's open to abuse , a bit like why there is never HYS on celtic v rangers games.
Hardly obscure, it is the oldest international football tournament in the world dating back to 1916, and has been used to determine who qualifies from the CONMEBOL for most of the World Cups that have been played. The competition was often a league of 9 teams & key to the development of international football - one reason why South American countries are so strong in the World Cup.
Yawn.
Stream it like the rest of the world.
I was wondering why those posts had gone and then read further back and saw the usual "I hate women playing football" nob who is always around when posts get deleted left, right and centre. On paper, Argentina have a fab team but names don't win games, Brazil to win.
Argentina Brazil is always a mouth watering tie, one of the great rivalries in football, Brazil slight favourites .
Knew if I dug deep enough, past the waves of womens football promotional pieces that hardly anyone is interested in - the empowering and inspiration begging articles to get females to do something written by... women who chose not to play the sports as it is a choice, .... I'd find an article on a proper football game in a proper tournament that isn't funded by the other sex.
4 hours ago
"Aguero the most underrated player I have ever seen..."
Yep- I've never even heard of this person- Their name has never been mentioned ever on Match of The Day or Football Focus.
Because it's open to abuse , a bit like why there is never HYS on celtic v rangers games.
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Abuse on a BBC HYS! I'm shocked.
What’s UEFA got to do with this?🤣
Lots of passionate "no prisoners" football.
Newcastle's Almiron is more than capable playing against the bigger SA names of European football.
Pity Rafa wont get to see his best signing evolve.