There would be no Cinderella story for the US national team in Houston on Tuesday night, as Lionel Messi spearheaded a clinical 4-0 victory for Argentina at NRG Stadium to book a place in the championship final of the Copa America Centenario.
Messi was imperious, setting up Ezequiel Lavezzi's clever opener and lashing a gorgeous free kick into the top corner to give the favorites a 2-0 halftime lead.
The result was even more one-sided than the score would suggest, as the US simply failed to launch. The hosts struggled to cope with La Albiceleste's withering high press, rarely knitting together more than a few passes at a time, and would finish the game without a single shot taken.