MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) 鈥� Lautaro Mart铆nez scored twice and Argentina, playing without the injured Lionel Messi, wrapped up Copa America group play with a 2-0 win over Peru on Saturday night.
A nicely placed through ball from 脕ngel Di Mar铆a led to Mart铆nez was embraced by teammates afterward, then , who was standing near Argentina's bench.
鈥淚 went to hug Leo for everything he means to us,鈥� Mart铆nez said through an interpreter.
Mart铆nez doubled Argentina鈥檚 lead in the 86th minute and now has a tournament-leading four goals.
鈥淓very time I wear this shirt I enjoy it," Mart铆nez said. "Many want to wear this shirt. I work to show the coach that I am ready to play when he needs me.鈥�
Messi did not play as he suffered in Argentina鈥檚 on Tuesday that clinched a quarterfinal berth for the defending champions. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was also absent because of his team鈥檚 late second-half return to the pitch in its previous two Copa matches.
Saturday, the Albiceleste walked out for the second half just a few seconds before Peru.
Argentina assistant Walter Samuel, who took Scaloni's place, said after the match that Messi is still day to day.
鈥淚 talked to him, and he鈥檚 getting better," Samuel said through an interpreter, "but it鈥檚 been just a couple of days and it鈥檚 too early to tell. We want to continue to listen to him and the doctors."
Playing with nine changes to its starting lineup, Argentina controlled possession (74%) for the third straight match and had six shots on goal, while 小蓝视频 held scoreless in the first half for the third straight match.
The game was played in front of about 64,000 fans at the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium, which will also host the final on July 14. Most fans cheered for Argentina while wearing different versions of Messi's No. 10 jersey.
in another Group A match on Saturday in Orlando, Florida, to also advance to the next round, which will be the country's first Copa America quarterfinal.
Argentina will learn its knockout stage opponent when Group B finishes on Sunday. Group leader Venezuela plays Jamaica at Austin, Texas, and second-place Ecuador plays Mexico at Glendale, Arizona.
Argentina will face the runner-up of Group B on Thursday at Houston.
Nicol谩s Tagliafico appeared to score for Argentina in the 55th minute after tapping in the ball at the back post, but the officials ruled that goaltender Pedro Gallese, who made four saves, was blocked and the goal was disallowed.
Argentina had another chance when the team was awarded a penalty after a handball in the box by Jes煤s Castillo. But Leandro Paredes blasted the ball into the right post, and the score remained 1-0.
Argentina, aiming for a record 16th Copa America title, won all three of its matches in group play. Goaltender Emiliano Mart铆nez did not allow a goal in the round and made six saves. Argentina hoisted the championship trophy in 2021 after beating Brazil 1-0 in the title game.
Peru was held without a goal Saturday for the third game of the tournament and has no goals in 11 of its last 14 matches. Peru played a scoreless draw against Chile in its Copa America opener, then lost 1-0 to Canada. The team reached the semifinals in 2021 before losing to Brazil.
鈥淚 believe that Peru鈥檚 performance today was the weakest of all three games,鈥� Peru coach Jorge Fossati said through an interpreter.
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AP Copa America coverage:
Alanis Thames, The Associated Press
