Copa America 2011, Argentina Vs. Costa Rica: Lionel Messi Steals Show As Argentina Win 3-0

Costa Rica, meanwhile, fielded a very defensive 3-5-2/5-3-2 hybrid designed to stifle their opposition rather than win the game. Bizarrely, they did so without Diego Madrigal, for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. Anyway, their strategy might have worked, had Messi not taken the opportunity to finally throw off the cloak of international doubt and dazzle the crowd with a wonderful display of movement and passing.

Were it not for the wayward finishing of Higuain, the Ballon d’Or winner might have had three assists by halftime. He was here, there, everywhere, dragging Costa Rica’s defenders all over the place and then picking out blue and white shirts with perfectly weighted passes. He also should have been booked for diving in the box at one point, which is less good, but that doesn’t make his play any less superb.

It took two and a half matches, but it looks like Lionel Messi has finally found someone who can finish all of those chances he’s been creating at Copa America. He has been sublime, playing beautiful ball after beautiful ball only for teammates to waste chances, but Sergio Aguero finally made one of those chances count. The Atletico Madrid man finished on a great pass from Messi in the 52nd minute for his second goal of the match to put Argentina up 2-0 on Costa Rica.

A great passing sequence got Messi the ball 30 yards out, straight away with the Costa Rica team scrambling to get back. He spotted Aguero making a run in behind the Ticos’ defense and slipped the ball through right onto Aguero’s foot. Aguero calmly slotted the ball past the keeper to the back post and Argentina had themselves a two-goal advantage.

The two disappointing draws forced Argentina to make changes to their team with four new faces coming into the starting XI, Aguero being one of them. The changes did not include Sergio Pastore getting a start, something that left manager Sergio Batista vulnerable to plenty of criticism if Argentina did not advance.

It took nearly the entire first half, but Argentina finally have the goal they deserve. Just before the referee blew the whistle for halftime, Sergio Aguero jumped on a rebound and knocked it home to put Argentina on top and put the hosts on track to avoid a disaster. After draws in their first two matches, Argentina needs a win over Costa Rica tonight to avoid elimination, something that could send the entire country into a rage. With Aguero’s goal though, Argentina are ahead 1-0 and look set to get the result they need.

Argentina’s 1-0 lead is completely deserved. They were the far superior team for all 45 minutes, frequently getting the ball to Lionel Messi, who was brilliant. His teammates let him down at times in not finishing, but Argentina were always in control. The scoreboard finally reflected that when Fernando Gago’s shot from distance was deflected and bounced off the legs of the goalkeeper, right into Aguero’s path. Aguero just knocked it into the empty net and the entire stadium erupted as Argentina went in front.

Will Batista learn from his mistakes on Monday? Even if he doesn’t, Argentina might be able to scrape by. Yes, Costa Rica kept it close against Colombia and defeated Bolivia, but this is a fairly average team. Saprissa forwards Joel Campbell and Josue Martinez might be future starters for the first choice national team, but they are not good enough to earn that distinction at present. Costa Rica shouldn’t be able to get a result Monday night.

However, there’s one game-related prediction we can make. If Argentina are eliminated from Copa America in the group stages, Sergio Batista probably won’t have a job come August.