Copa America: Argentina scores early goal against USA

Team USA got off to a nightmare start against Argentina in the semifinals of the 2016 Copa America.

There were many questions heading into today’s Copa America semifinal between Team USA and Argentina, but there will only be more after a third minute goal by Lionel Messi’s side. Messi did not score the goal himself, but he did get the assist on a goal that saw Brad Guzan look like he forgot where he was in both space and time.

The US squad came in as major underdogs, and it showed early. Argentina has gone up 1-0 before most fans could even settle in on a couch or in a bar to enjoy the game.

The main story heading into the game was the new look lineup for the US thanks to suspensions being served by Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya and Bobby Wood. But that goal from Ezequiel Lavezzi was just a breakdown by the entire back line of the defense.

An early goal is a terrible way to start a game, but the good news is that the team has over an hour to get the goal back, assuming the defense does not make any more mistakes from now until then.

That is a lot to ask, especially given Messi’s resume in Copa America tournaments.

That is a tough statistic to overcome for the US squad, but the home field advantage and momentum from the win over Ecuador will serve to help this squad not give up after an early goal, such as Mexico did against Chile in the quarterfinals.

The early mistake from Guzan and the defense could prove to be the difference in the game, but it is far too early in the game to declare it over. That is, until Messi decides to forgo assists and tries to start scoring himself.

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