Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the hero, saving two penalties and Lionel Messi’s blushes as defending Argentina defeated Ecuador in a shootout to book a place in the Copa America semifinals.

A Lisandro Martinez header had put world champions Argentina 1-0 up 10 minutes before halftime, but Kevin Rodriguez headed in a stoppage-time leveler for Ecuador, which had risen to the occasion in front of 69,456 fans at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

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