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There was no contest between Argentina and Venezuela, La Vinotinto was actually really spirited during the Group stage of Copa America but playing against the powerful Argentina can be anyone's downfall. Gerardo Martino's pupils are itching for a trophy for the last two years now, it's very difficult that they will let this chance go. From the very start of the match it was evident that Leo Messi was on fire, he started dribbling rivals like traffic cones without a problem.
On the 8th minute he gave a perfecto assist for Higuain who scored the first goal with a turnaround first touch finish after Messi's pass. The Napoli striker got his brace on the 28th minute after a dismal mistake pass from a Venezuela defender, Higuain just had to clean the space ahead of him and finished with no one left to stop the shot. Two minutes before the break Venezuela got a penalty called in their favor, but Seijas attempted a Panenka shot which Romero figured out. The players went to the break with this momentary victory, but Messi had only made his appearance with that assist, that wasn't enough.
After the break, fifteen minutes into the second half, Messi completed a beautiful one-two with Nicolas Gaitan and finished with a shot between the goalkeeper's legs. This was Leo's 54th goal with Argentina, which placed him next to Gabriel Batistuta as his country's all-time top scorer five years younger than Batistuta reached his record. The former Argentina striker got his54 goals at 33 years old, Messi did it at 28. Enough said.
Ten minutes after Messi's goal, striker Salomon Rondon pulled one back for Venezuela with a powerful header after a cross from the left wing. But Messi assisted Erik Lamela a minute later for Argentina's fourth goal, they were too much Argentina for this Vinotinto side. Messi was on his element, he seems ready to claims his first ever major trophy for Argentina, but he still has to play the semifinals against the United States.
Photo credit: Seleccion Argentina
