Argentina moves to semifinals to play US after winning 4-1 against Venezuela

Lionel Messi joined Argentina’s record books as his team comfortably beat Venezuela to move to the semifinals.

Argentina never looked under pressure in a comfortable victory against Venezuela to progress to a semifinal match up with the U.S.

Messi was at his best with two assists and goal that took him to 54 Argentina goals, level with Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all time leader scorer.

Gonzalo Higuain scored the opener for Argentina after latching on to a brilliant long ball from Messi in the eighth minute. Higuain then doubled the lead in the 28th minute capitalizing on a brain fade in the Venezuelan defence which left him with a open goal and was able to finish calmly.

In the 42nd minute Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero brought down Josef Martínez and Venezuela was awarded a penalty kick. But Luis Manuel Seijas’ attempted chip landed safely in Romero’s gloves. In the 59th minute Messi made it 3-0, finishing off an Argentine attack that easily cut through the Venezuela defense.

Venezuela then pulled one back in the 69th minute from a Salomon Rondon header. But Eric Lamela responded to make it 4-1 seconds later after coming on as a substitute. Argentina will now play competition hosts the U.S. on Tuesday June 21.