Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez continued his penalty shoot-out mastery, making two crucial saves to lift his team to a 4-2 victory over Ecuador in the Copa America quarterfinals on Thursday.
The game had ended 1-1 in regulation, setting the stage for a tense penalty shootout. When Lionel Messi uncharacteristically missed the opening attempt, the near-capacity crowd at NRG Stadium in Houston braced for an early exit in Argentina’s title defense.
However, Martinez stepped up in the clutch, just as he had done during Argentina’s run to the 2022 World Cup trophy. The Aston Villa keeper denied attempts by Angel Mena and Alan Minda, sparking raucous celebrations from the Albiceleste faithful.
“Dibu is an animal,” said midfielder Rodrigo De Paul. “He deserves it. He loves to wear these colors. He gives us a lot of security and peace of mind.”
Indeed, Martinez’s heroics have become a trademark for Argentina. His penalty save against Colombia in the 2021 Copa America semifinals and his crucial stops versus the Netherlands at the World Cup cemented his status as one of the world’s premier shot-stoppers.
While the 30-year-old refrained from his usual gamesmanship on the penalty spot, his sheer presence and skill were enough to steer Argentina through to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Brazil and Paraguay.
“I told the guys before the penalty shootout that I wasn’t ready to go home,” Martinez said. “This group deserves to go to the final.”
After a long journey from the Arsenal academy to starring for his national team, Martinez has become an indispensable figure for Argentina. His latest exploits have only reinforced the team’s confidence in their goalkeeper ahead of the business end of the Copa America.
