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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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
