The reigning champions won all of their three games to top Group A in the opening phase of this tournament without even conceding a goal, but injury concerns around captain Lionel Messi have created something of a distraction ahead of this match.
Ecuador, meanwhile, finished level with Mexico on four points after the teams drew 0-0 in their Group B finale, but Felix Sanchez’s side claimed a spot in the knockout stages thanks to their superior goal difference.
They are the underdogs for this game, but with Chelsea-bound Kendry Paez in their ranks, they are capable of springing a surprise.The Sporting News is following Argentina vs. Ecuador live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
MORE: Copa America 2024 bracket and results, updated LIVE | Who will win Copa America 2024? Latest odds and predictions | How to watch all the Copa America actionArgentina vs. Ecuador live score (second half)
Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston
Referee: Andres Matonte (URU)
Starting lineups:
Argentina (4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 25. Li. Martinez, 3. Tagliafico — 24. Fernandez, 7. De Paul, 20. Mac Allister — 10 Messi, 15. Gonzalez, 22. La. Martinez
Ecuador (4-2-3-1, right to left): 22. Dominguez (GK) — 17. Preciado, 2. Torres, 6. Pacho, 3. Hincapie — 21. Franco, 23. M. Caicedo — 8. Gruezo, 10. Paez, 16. Sarmiento — 13. Valencia.
MORE: Messi’s all-time record at the Copa America
Argentina vs. Ecuador live updates, highlights from Copa America 2024
54th min: Moises Caicedo is down getting treatment at the moment. Been down for a few minutes. Means there will be a lot of stoppage time added on after the 90.
51st min: Good spell of pressure from Ecuador. Argentina have withdraw their defensive line deeper and they prevent Ecuador from creating an opportunity.
49th min: Cagey start to the second period. Argentina are definitely sitting a little deeper now they have the one goal advantage.
46th min: Messi is out there for the second half. There was speculation he might only play a half tonight. No substitutions for either nation.
2nd half kickoff: We are underway in the second period. Can Ecuador get back into the match? Or will Argentina march on?
Half time: Argentina 1-0 Ecuador. Lisandro Martinez’s first-ever goal for Argentina separates the two teams. Ecuador should have taken the lead earlier in the half with golden chances squandered by Moises Caicedo and Jeremy Sarmiento. But the world champions rode through the storm and head to the sheds in the lead. Martinez’s goal was brilliantly set up by Alexis McAllister’s flick. It was poor defending by Ecuador, with Lisandro unmarked at the far post.
46th min: Game has been stopped after McAllister was winded by as Caicedo cross. We have resumed.
45th min: There will be two minutes of added on time.
45th min: Valencia, who has already been carded, is involved in another incident. He needs to be careful
42nd min: Chance – Argentina. Pacho gives the ball away. It ends up with Fernandez in the box, he sends the cross-shot through the area but Lautaro can’t get a boot on it. Ecuador need to get to half-time without conceding another goal. Argentina are going for the jugular.
40th min: That goal will be soul crushing for Ecuador, who should have had the lead earlier. Ecuador have never beaten Argentina at Copa America. And it’s a long road back from 1-0 down.
35th min: GOAL! ARGENTINA! Lisandro Martinez arrives at the back post unmarked to head the corner into the net. It was an excellent flick from McAllister at the front post but no one was near Lisandro. Dominguez did claw the ball out of the net but it was well over the line.
*Watch in USA
ARGENTINA BREAKS THROUGH 🔥
Lisandro Martínez scores his first goal for Argentina at the perfect time 👏🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/iGKgRVLUk7
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 5, 2024
*Watch in Canada
GOOOOOOOOOOOL 🗣️
Lisandro Martinez heads in the Lionel Messi corner to give Argentina the lead.#CA2024 pic.twitter.com/RvcQxGLNLJ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 5, 2024
34th min: Chance – Argentina. Fernandez makes a run through the middle of the defence. He picks up the ball, is slowed at the top of the area, has runners on both sides, but decides to shoot and it’s blocked for a corner.
32nd min: Good spell for Argentina in recent minutes. Ecuador have defended deep and well though so far.
28th min: Valencia is down getting treatment. The crowd boo. De Paul is not happy. This stoppage is good for Ecuador as it feels like Argentina could be starting to find some rhythm.
27th min: Chance – Argentina. Fernandez heads just wide of the post after an excellent cross from the right. Finally signs of life from the favourites.
26th min: Argentina have had 64 per cent possession but it has been Ecuador with all the chances.
23rd min: Messi has been pretty quiet so far. But we all know that it just takes one moment for him to rip the game apart.
22nd min: Argentina apply significant pressure to the Ecuador box but the underdogs defend resolutely and prevent any clear chances.
20th min: If you want to know more about Kendry Paez, this is everything you need to know from The Sporting News.
19th min: Flurry of chances for Ecuador. They are really looking dangerous on the counter as Argentina push up. Valencia is holding the ball up well and being supported by Caicedo.
16th min: Chance – Ecuador. Valencia brings the ball down out on the right, clips in the cross to an under-lapping Preciado, but the full-back can only touch the ball on to the roof of the net. Tough chance. The ball was behind him.
12th min: Chance – Ecuador. Wow, two huge opportunities for Ecuador. Quick feet of Sarmiento allows him a clear shot from a tight angle, but Emi Martinez blocks expertly. The ball comes out to Paez just outside the area, but he spears a shot over the bar.
11th min: Ecuador win the first corner of the game but it amounts to nothing. They do look dangerous. Particularly down the left where Caicedo is operating in an advanced position. He usually plays deeper for Chelsea.
9th min: Caicedo is down and getting treatment for Ecuador. Argentina have dominated possession early but Ecuador could have scored through Caicedo. They are looking for the counter-attack.
7th min: Chance – Ecuador. Out of nowhere Caicedo finds himself through on goal. He bears down on Emi Martinez but pressure from behind means the shot is weak and straight into the keeper’s arms. It was Valencia’s header that set Caicedo through on goal.
6th min: Argentina have only lost two of their last 61 games in all competitions. It’s going to be a tough task for Ecuador tonight.
3rd min: De Paul pokes the ball through for Lautaro, but Ecuador get back to scramble the ball clear before the attacker can get on the ball. Argentina looking dangerous early.
2nd min: Gonzalez wins it back from Ecuador. He plays the one-two and slips the ball to Lautaro at the top of the area, but the Inter forward gets the ball stuck under his feet.
1st min: Ecuador not pressing early on. They are sitting back and allowing Argentina to stroke the ball around the back.
Kickoff: We are off and running at NRG Stadium. Messi is undoubtedly the star for Argentina but keep an eye on 17-year-old Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Paez. He has been super impressive at this tournament.
5 mins before kickoff: Its definitely a capacity crowd here in Houston. National anthems are being played. We are only minutes away from kickoff.
10 mins before kickoff: Getting closer to kickoff here. Can favourites Argentina get through to the semis? Or will Ecuador cause a boilover?
30 mins before kickoff: Fans are starting to fill up NRG Stadium. Should be a capacity crowd.
In the building 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/p1Yim8gPLn
— CONMEBOL Copa América™️ ENG (@copaamerica_ENG) July 5, 2024
50 mins before kickoff: ECUADOR STARTING XI
Ecuador’s men 🚨 pic.twitter.com/lctvVBXSJq
— CONMEBOL Copa América™️ ENG (@copaamerica_ENG) July 4, 2024
1 hour before kickoff: ARGENTINA STARTING XI
Messi starts for Argentina with Lautaro Martinez preferred to Julian Alvarez up front.
Argentina’s starters 🚨 pic.twitter.com/k4O9uZkAy7
— CONMEBOL Copa América™️ ENG (@copaamerica_ENG) July 4, 2024
1 hour, 20min before kickoff: Team lineups are only 20 minutes away. Lionel Messi is expected to be named for Argentina.
1 hour, 40 min before kickoff: Tonight’s match will be played at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. It has a capacity crowd of 72,220.
A fan holds a flag with the images of Diego A. #Maradona and Lionel #Messi outside the stadium prior to the CONMEBOL @CopaAmerica Quarter Final match between @Argentina and @LaTri at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
More #GettySportVideo 🎥 Buda Mendes 👉 https://t.co/L6ndjB16Oy pic.twitter.com/vXPVkjy28D
— Getty Images Sport (@GettySport) July 4, 2024
2 hours before kickoff: It’s quarterfinal time at the Copa America. Can Ecuador cause a shock and eliminate reigning champions Argentina?
Todos los caminos conducen a Miami 😍 pic.twitter.com/yUJWi1ti6P
— CONMEBOL Copa América™️ (@CopaAmerica) July 4, 2024
Argentina vs. Ecuador kickoff time
This Copa America match kicks off from NRG Stadium on Thursday, July 4 at 8:00 p.m. local time in Houston, Texas, USA.
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Thu, July 4 | 9 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Thu, July 4 | 6 p.m. PT |
| UK | Fri, July 5 | 2 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Fri, July 5 | 11 a.m. AEST |
| India | Fri, July 5 | 6:30 a.m. IST |
Argentina vs. Ecuador lineups, team news, starting 11
The main talking point leading up to Argentina’s Copa America quarterfinal against Ecuador will be talisman Lionel Messi‘s fitness. It was no great surprise to see the 37-year-old Inter Miami star sit out the clash with Peru after he required treatment in Argentina’s second game against Chile. He even admitted after the match that he had felt “some discomfort” in his right hamstring.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion took part in full practices this week and there’s confidence that Messi will prove his fitness in time for the match in Houston.
Coach Lionel Scaloni also rested the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul and Julian Alvarez for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Peru on Matchday 3, all of whom should return to the starting lineup for this game.
Angel Di Maria reclaimed his place in the starting 11 last time out, while Nicolas Tagliafico was the only defender to keep his spot, and Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez should reunite with him in a back four here.
With four goals in this competition so far, including a brace against Peru, Inter Milan hitman Lautaro Martinez is set to spearhead the Argentina attack against Ecuador, flanked by Alvarez and Messi.
Argentina projected starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): E. Martinez (GK) — Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico — Di Maria, De Paul, Mac Allister — Messi, La. Martinez, Alvarez.
Argentina subs (max 15): Matchday squad released one hour prior to kickoff
After missing their previous encounter through suspension, Ecuador’s all-time leading goalscorer Enner Valencia played the full 90 against Mexico, with John Yeboah making way. He will be the man up top to provide a difference as he looks to add to his 41-goal international tally against the world champions.
Kendry Paez is an attacking force from midfield for Ecuador. He is very positive with the ball and uses his electrifying burst of speed to get past defenders. Jeremy Sarmiento‘s athleticism makes him a problem for backlines, while Alan Minda is another exciting young impact player.
Defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo and defender Piero Hincapie create a strong spine for the team.
Ecuador projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Dominguez (GK) — Preciado, Torres, Pacho, Hincapie — Franco, M. Caicedo — Minda, Paez, Sarmiento — Valencia.
Ecuador subs (max 15): Matchday squad released one hour prior to kickoff
Argentina vs. Ecuador live stream, TV channel
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | FOX, Univision, TUDN | Fubo, Fox Sports app/website, ViX, Univision Now, TUDN app/website |
| Canada | TSN 4, 5, RDS, CTV Two | TSN+, RDS App, CTV App |
| UK | Premier Sports 1 | Premier Sports Player |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | — | — |
USA: Argentina vs. Ecuador from NRG Stadium will be televised in the United States on FOX, with a Spanish-language broadcast via Univision and TUDN. All three channels are available to stream on Fubo, with the latter offering a FREE seven-day trial.
Spanish language coverage is also available on streaming platform ViX.
UK: This match will be shown in the UK on Premier Sport Player’s platforms.
Canada: All Copa America matches can be seen in Canada on TSN’s respective TV channel and live streaming services. RDS provides French-language coverage.
Australia: Australia’s sole broadcaster for the Copa America is Optus Sport.
India: Unfortunately, there has been no official confirmation of TV and live stream broadcasts of Copa America in India. Reports had suggested that FanCode and Sony were ready to take up broadcast rights for the tournament but, as yet, that has not been made official. So at the moment, there is no official platform in India on which viewers can stream or any channel on which the match will be broadcast.
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