Well, that certainly could have gone better for the U.S. national team. After 45 minutes of the first 2016 Copa America Centenario semifinal, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side trails Lionel Messi and Argentina, 2-0 at the halftime break.
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Argentina opened the scoring after less than three full minutes, when Ezequiel Lavezzi — probably the 15th-best player on La Albiceleste‘s Copa roster — headed home a chipped ball from Messi.
Dream start for Argentina, as Lionel Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi combine for the opener. #USAvARG #MyCopaColors https://t.co/6AdO7NBAOU
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2016
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Messi’s (latest) magical amazing perfect incomprehensible free kick in the 32nd minute made it 2-0, and that just about about do it for tonight. He’s now the leading goalscorer in the history of the Argentine national team (55 goals, breaking Gabriel Batistuta’s mark of 54).
There's just no stopping free kicks like these. Take a bow, Leo Messi. 😱 #USAvARG #MyCopaColors https://t.co/9HeE3OqVMf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2016
As for the USMNT, they done … well, basically nothing, as most pundits and fans predicted upon the announcement of tonight’s starting lineup — 27 percent of the game’s possession, resulting in zero shots taken, meaning zero shots on goal, and all of six forward passes completed into final third of the field.