Lautaro Martinez 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 Ángel Di Maria led to Martinez's first goal in the 47th minute. Martinez was embraced by teammates afterward, then went to hug Messi, who was standing near Argentina's bench.
Martinez doubled Argentina's lead in the 86th minute and now has a tournament-leading four goals.
Lautaro Martinez #22 of Argentina scores his first goal in the Copa America group stage against Peru in Miami, U.S., June 29, 2024. /CFP
Messi did not play as he is nursing a leg injury suffered in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Chile on Tuesday that clinched a quarterfinal berth for the defending champions. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was also absent after being suspended because of his team's 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.
"I talked to him, and he's getting better," Samuel said through an interpreter, "but it's been just a couple of days and it's 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 74 percent of possession for the third straight match and had six shots on goal, while being 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.
Argentina will learn its knockout stage opponent when Group B finishes on Sunday. Group leader Venezuela play Jamaica in Austin, Texas, and second-place Ecuador plays Mexico in Glendale, Arizona.
Argentina will face the runner-up of Group B on Thursday in Houston.
Nicolás 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 Jesús 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 Martínez 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.
Canadian players celebrate the team's progression to the Copa America quarterfinals after a goalless draw with Chile in Orlando, U.S., June 29, 2024. /CFP
Elsewhere, Maxime Crépeau finished with three saves to lead Canada to a scoreless draw with Chile, sending the Canadians to the quarterfinal round of Copa America in their first appearance.
Chile was forced to play a man down after Gabriel Suazo was issued a second yellow card in the 27th minute, but Canada (1-1-1) could not take advantage. Suazo also received a yellow card in the 12th minute, leading to the red card.
Gabriel Arias saved two shots for Chile (0-1-2). Arias had both of his saves and Crépeau, the keeper for Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers, had one in the first half.
Canada advanced to the quarterfinals, which begins on Thursday. Group A leaders Argentina beat Peru 2-0 and are the favorites to win the event for a second straight time after winning all three of its matches in group play. Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the championship match in 2021, the last time the tournament was held. Argentina and Uruguay have both won the title 15 times.
Chile concluded its Copa America group stage without head coach Ricardo Gareca, who was handed a one-match suspension because he was late in bringing on a player at halftime in a loss to Argentina on Tuesday.