For most of 90 minutes Thursday night, Argentina was comfortable. For 360-plus minutes at this 2024 Copa América, the reigning champions of everything had not conceded a single goal.
A little after 10 p.m. in Houston, though, they were on the brink of elimination, stunned by Ecuador and down in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi missed — until goalkeeper Emi Martínez saved the day.
Argentina was ahead for most of a tense match, but never dominant. And in second-half stoppage time, Ecuador equalized — sending 70,000 fans at NRG Stadium into a state of shock, and sending the game straight to penalties.