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Victor Petkov
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Messi return in form to push Argentina past Canada 2-0
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The defending champions will face Colombia or Uruguay in the final

Defending champions Argentina secured their place in the Copa America final with a 2-0 victory over Canada in the semi-final held in New Jersey.

Goals from Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi propelled Argentina to the final, where they will face either Uruguay or Colombia in Florida on Sunday.

Canada started strong and created early chances, with Jacob Shaffelburg missing two promising opportunities. However, Argentina capitalized on their first real chance when Rodrigo De Paul played a through ball to Alvarez, who scored with a composed finish in the 22nd minute.

The 2022 World Cup winners and top-ranked team in FIFA’s standings, Argentina gradually took control of the game. Messi, showing no signs of the muscle injury that had troubled him earlier in the tournament, almost doubled the lead before halftime with a skilful move, but his shot went wide. Canada nearly equalized just before the break when Jonathan David’s close-range effort was saved by Emiliano Martinez.

In the second half, Messi sealed the victory for Argentina in the 51st minute by deflecting Enzo Fernandez’s shot past Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. The goal showcased Messi’s opportunistic brilliance and provided a comfortable cushion for Argentina for the remainder of the match.

This upcoming final could represent the last opportunity for several senior Argentine players, including Messi, Angel Di Maria, and Nicolas Otamendi, to add another major trophy to their illustrious careers. Argentina will be aiming to secure their 16th Copa America title, which would extend their record of victories in the competition.