In a thrilling Copa America quarter-final match, Emi Martinez was once again called upon to save the day for defending champions Argentina. The Villa goalkeeper stepped up to the penalty spot and confidently saved the first two kicks by Ecuador, securing a 4-2 victory for his team after a 1-1 draw in normal time on Thursday.
This was not the first time that Martinez has been the hero in a shootout, as he famously saved his country from elimination against France in the World Cup final in 2022 and more recently helped Villa reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals by stopping Lille’s attempts on target. Martinez expressed his determination to keep going in the tournament, stating that both he and his teammates were not ready to go home just yet, as they are reigning world champions and deserved to continue their journey.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni also praised Martinez’s performance, calling him a crucial player in their success. Scaloni acknowledged that Martinez’s heroics in the penalty shootout were what ultimately made the difference for his team in this critical match.
