Lionel Messi stepped up and buried the ghosts of all those crucial misses and scored the penalty. Argentina stealing a point in this game keeps its hopes to advance out of the group play alive, however meek.

While Derlis Gonzalez missed the penalty kick, the point still remains that both chances were the result of Argentine miscues.

More space for the midfield, as Paraguay were forced to defend ten yards deeper.

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Belo Horizonte: Argentina got themselves on the board in the 2019 edition of Copa America as Lionel Messi's penalty helped them get a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Paraguay at the Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto in Belo Horizonte on Thursday. Zapata rose with five minutes left to head home a floated cross from man of the match James Rodríguez and break the deadlock in a scrappy but end to end encounter at the Morumbi stadium. At the edge of the box, Richard Sanchez got to the ball and slotted the ball home to give Paraguay the lead. Richard Sanchez put Paraguay ahead after 37 minutes in Belo Horizonte when he lashed home a cross from Miguel Almiron. After review, officials ruled a handball in the box against Paraguay and awarded Argentina the penalty. #CopaAmerica https://t.co/o4cc4qcwjR.

Never mind how did he get the job; how did he have a career as a top-flight player? Heading into the final match of group play against Qatar, who managed to come from behind and get a 2-2 draw against Paraguay, Argentina. For Paraguay, a draw against Argentina is definitely huge but they would be deflated knowing they had the chance to win this one and pile on Argentina's misery. More space for Messi. One would hope Scaloni believes Copa has begun now, as Argentina is down to its last breath. Lionel Messi equalised for Argentina from the spot at Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte. All rights reserved.
Thereafter, both teams failed to create anything of note and seemed to have made peace with the draw. It's only fitting that Argentina's first goal of its 2019 Copa Americacampaign came from Lionel Messi after video assistant referee awarded him a penalty kick. Barely. © Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2020. If Messi buried the penalty awarded to Argentina, Derlis Gonzalez missed the one Paraguay received just moments after as the two teams settled for a draw. Already-qualified Colombia lead the group on six points after beating Qatar 1-0 earlier on thanks to a late goal from Duvan Zapata, with Paraguay second on two. Scaloni apparently didn't see it.

All rights reserved. In the 55th minute, Sergio Aguero showed some power to put the ball in the centre from the right but two attempts later, Argentina failed to find the back of the net. Richard Sanchez and Miguel Almiron collaborated to give Paraguay a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute on the counterattack following a free kick for Argentina, then had a golden opportunity to retake the lead with a penalty kick of its own in the 63rd minute.

Asian champions Qatar, one of the two non-South American teams invited, improved in the second period but just as the game looked destined to finish goalless, Zapata gave Colombia all three points. Argentina required intervention from Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to get started at the Copa America and Messi even seemed to thank the system in his goal celebration.


Paraguay were awarded a spot-kick of their own a few minutes later but Derlis González’s shot was saved by Argentina keeper Franco Armani, who was lucky to avoid a red card when he fouled González outside his area at the end of the first half.