Lionel Messi’s first shot hit the crossbar and went wide. It was the first shot of the tiebreaker in the Argentina-Ecuador match in the quarter-finals of this year’s Copa America. Two superhuman saves from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez later put the world champions through to the semi-finals.

The Argentina-Ecuador match set a new televised record in the United States. Broadcasting company Fox Sports said that a record 18 lakh 70 thousand viewers watched Messi’s match on television. Without the United States in the match, this is the US record for the most Copa America quarterfinal match.

The televised audience for the Argentina-Ecuador match was 482 percent higher than the average for the 2021 Copa America quarter-finals. Fox Sports reported that 57 percent more people watched the quarter-finals than the 2016 quarter-finals.

After defeating Ecuador 4-2 in the tiebreaker, Argentina advances to the semi-finals. The reigning champions are on their way to a record 16th Copa title. Bangladesh time tomorrow morning, Messi’s road is blocked by Canada. The match starts at 6 am and the venue is East Rutherford, New Jersey. Colombia and Uruguay will meet in the second semi-final the next day.

Final in Miami on July 15 morning Bangladesh time.