Copa America: Argentina beats Ecuador, plays Colombia in semifinal
Rio de Janeiro, Jul 4: Lionel Messi scored his 76th international goal and is now only one shy of Pele for the South American record as Argentina beat Ecuador 3-0 to progress to the semifinals of the Copa America.
Messi scored from a late freekick on Saturday and earlier laid on two assists as Argentina eventually subdued Ecuador and kept the superstar's dream of winning his first major international title alive.
Argentina's rival at the Man Garrincha Stadium on Tuesday will be Colombia, which earlier overcame Uruguay on penalties. The other semifinal will feature defending champions Brazil and Peru.
Rodrigo de Paul opened the scoring at the Olimpico Stadium in Goiania in the 39th minute, tapping into an empty goal before Lautaro Martinez added the second in the 84th with a blast from close range. Messi, in his first match since his contract with Barcelona expired, assisted both of them.
In the dying moments of the match Messi scored Argentina's third from a free kick from the edge of the box. It was his fourth goal in the tournament.
Heavily favoured Argentina wasted several opportunities at 1-0 to cruise to a comfortable victory. Ecuador then hit the post in the second half before Martinez doubled Argentina's lead. But Messi became more influential after 71 minutes when ngel di Maria stepped in replacing Giovani lo Celso.
Ecuador also lost defender Piero Hincapi to a red card near the end of the match after a foul on Di Maria that gave Argentina the free kick scored by Messi.
Messi said being in the semifinals was one of Argentina's objectives for the tournament.
"Now we have to rest and think of Colombia. They defend well, they have quick counters," the striker said.
Asked about his performance, he was brief: "Individual awards are secondary.
#CopaAmérica ?
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) July 4, 2021
¡Otro pase de Messi! El 10 dejó libre a Lautaro Martínez para el 2-0 de @Argentina sobre @LaTri
?? Argentina ? Ecuador ??#VibraElContinente #VibraOContinente pic.twitter.com/y16BIbaIqL
#CopaAmérica ?
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) July 4, 2021
¡Bombazo! Lionel Messi la clavó de tiro libre para el 3-0 final de @Argentina sobre @LaTri
?? Argentina ? Ecuador ??#VibraElContinente #VibraOContinente pic.twitter.com/FcvQrHuRka
Un gol. Dos asistencias. Más ángulos del partido del ? ??
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) July 4, 2021
¿Qué más podemos pedir? ?#VibraElContinente #CopaAmérica pic.twitter.com/ItLjdgyT3f
#CopaAmérica ?
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) July 4, 2021
Estas fueron las acciones más destacadas de la victoria de @Argentina sobre @LaTri por 3-0 en los Cuartos de Final de la CONMEBOL #CopaAmérica
?? Argentina ? Ecuador ??#VibraElContinente #VibraOContinente pic.twitter.com/LMLHRn46fn
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Austrian police detain suspect in case of rat poison found in baby food jars on supermarket shelves
Vienna (AP): Police in eastern Austria say a 39-year-old suspect has been arrested after rat poison turned up in some HiPP baby food jars on supermarket shelves in central Europe.
HiPP, which recalled some of its baby food jars in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic after the case came to light last month, said in a statement Saturday it was “greatly relieved” by the arrest, and would provide further updates as verified details come in.
The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office, under the direction of prosecutors, said a probe was launched after poison turned up in a baby food jar purchased at a supermarket in the city of Eisenstadt on April 18.
It said the suspect was being questioned, and that no further details would be immediately provided. The Burgenland public prosecutor's office has announced an investigation into suspected “intentional endangerment of the public.”
The Austrian Press Agency reported that an expert report on the toxicity of the poison was pending. A total of five tampered baby food jars were seized before they could be consumed, APA reported.
Authorities said previously they believe the tampering occurred in 190-gram (6.7-ounce) jars of baby food made with carrots and potatoes for 5-month-olds that were sold from SPAR supermarkets in Austria.
HiPP responded by recalling all of its baby food jars sold at SPAR supermarkets — which include SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt stores — in Austria as a precaution. Vendors in Slovakia and the Czech Republic also removed all of the brand's baby jars from sale.
The company said the recall was not due to any product or quality defect on its part, and said the jars left its facility in “perfect condition.”
Police said a customer at the time of the discovery had reported that a jar appeared to have been tampered with, but no one had consumed the baby food.
