USA 0-4 ARGENTINA
USA vs Argentina live online: Copa América 2016 semi-final
Argentina were too strong for USA, and Leo Messi was in inspirational form, setting up two and scoring a stunning free-kick. Chile or Colombia await in Monday's final.
90+3 | The full-time whistle goes. Argentina win 4-0 and book their place in the final where they will meet the winner of tomorrow's semi-final between Chile and Colombia.
90 | Regulation time's up, three minutes to be added on.
86 | Goooaal! Higuaín makes it 4-0. Ball squared to him by Messi, leaving a simple tap-in at the back post.
84 | Substitution: Rojo leaves the field and Cuesta takes his place. Final change from Tata Martino.
82 | Uyy!! Messi forces Guzan down low to tip around a low, curled effort.
78 | Substitution: Dempsey's game's over, on comes Nagbe for the last 10 minutes.
77 | Lamela could have made it four but with Higuaín calling at the back post, he's caught in two minds and his final effort is a shot-come-cross
75 | Much of the sting has gone out of Argentina's game since the Lavezzi incident - they've lost three players to injury and it's affected them.
67 | Substitution: Lamela is on for Lavezzi
65 | Lavazzi is taken off on a stretcher. Not sure how serious it is - he seemed to be able to move his arm so let's hope not, but he fell flat on his right arm.
62 | Lazezzi goes tumbling over an advertising hoarding as he tracks a high ball and looks to have seriously hurt his arm.
60 | They're dropping like flies - now Rojo's down...
58 | Substitution: Bimbaum replaces Beckerman.
58 | Substitution: Biglia comes on for Augusto.
57 | Augusto is down, looks like a pulled hamstring - he may miss the final if it's serious.
53 | For stat lovers: Argentina with 86% possession and five shots on target - three of which entered.
48 | Goooaall!!! El Pipita Higuáin races onto a lofted ball in the US box and while Guzan gets a hand to the ball, it's still loose and the Napoli striker scoops it home from close range. Timed his run well. 3-0
46 | An Argentina fan runs onto the pitch, bows down at Messi's feet and asks if he will sign his shirt, Messi complies and hands the pen back to the cheeky pitch invader who then runs off. Klinsmann is shaking his head and seen to mouth: "Unbelievable"
45 | We're back underway. Just the one substitution at the interval - Chris Wondolowski, who was testing the ref's patience, fails to come out for the second half and Christian Pulisic in on in his place
So it ends 2-0 to Argentina on half-time, not many would argue about the scoreline after the first 45. The US caught napping for the opener and Messi's 'magic beard' sprinkled a little bit of magic for a spectacular second. Frustration starting to shown on Klinsmann's side late on and they'll need to be careful as they've already had thei fare share of red cards in this tournament.
45+1 | Lavezzi has the ball in the net but the flag's up - he appeared to be unceremoniously dragged down, by the neck, by Guzan and is receiving treatment.
44 | Getting a bit phyiscal as this first half comes to a close. Lavezzi down after a clumsy challenge from Cameron. One minute of stoppage time to be added on.
40 | Lavezzi wins a corner for Argentina, on the left which he takes himself but it's cleared at the near post.
Just watching the slow-motion replay of that Messi free-kick, the ball dipped just at the last moment - under the bar and inside the top corner - very few keepers could have done anything about it.
32 | Goooaal!! Good lord! What a strike from Messi! curled right inside the top coner. An absolutely stunning free-kick. And with that, Argentina double the lead, and Messi overtakes Batistuta
30 | Wondolowski, who's been a yellow card waiting to happen, bodychecks Messi who was darting straight for goal and goes into the book. Free-kick 25 yards out.
26 | Argentina speading the ball about and look like they want to make short work of this. Klinsmann's players are just following the ball but can't win it back.
21 | Goal scorer Lavezzi is barged down and Argentina take the free-kick quickly, threading a ball to Higuaín in the box but his marker followed, and the ball is cleared.
14 | Argentina break leaving Higuaín with a clear view of goal but his low shot is straight at the keeper.
13 | Another ball in from the by-line from Mercado but Guzan smothers.
12 | Messi playing a more central role, prowling just outside the area - any loose balls, and he's on them in a flash.
10 | Funes Mori's down after colliding with Wondolowski. He's back up again now.
8 | Tasty, free-flosing move from Argentina, the ball is back-heeled to Rojo's whose cross finds Messi but he just got under it, and blazed over. USA looking a little shellshocked.
7 | Bradley takes a free-kick for the US out wide on the right but it's easily cleared by the Argentine defence.
2 | Goooaal!!! Move started from a throw-in close to the corner flag on the left, the ball was cleared to Messi at the edge of the box and his dinked chip into the area was headed in by Pocho Lavezzi, who had the luxury of a free header. 1-0!
1 | Argentina making their intentions very clear from the off. Messi weaves his way down the right, lays the ball off for Mercado but his centre in cleared.
0 | And the USA get us underway in Houston!
Hands on chest, Star Spangled Banner is played most of the team and Jurgen Klinsmann sign along.
Argentina's national anthem (Marcha Patriótica) is first, the team look stone-faced but the fans are wildly bouncing up and down in the stands.
Out come the teams! Argentina in their dark navy second kit, USA all in white.
Your referee for this evening is Mr. Enrique Cáceres from Paraguay.
The 71,795-seater NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas is completely sold-out. 70,858 is the official attendance figure.
Here are the teams:
USA XI: Guzan; Brooks, Cameron, Yedlin, Johnson, Bradley, Zusi, Beckerman, Zardes, Dempsey and Wondolowski.
Argentina XI: Romero, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Mercado, Rojo, Mascherano, Augusto, Banega, Lavezzi, Messi and Higuaín.
Huge night this for both teams - the Argentina side, (who all seem to have beards or five o'clock shadows) looking to redeem themselves for last year's defeat in the final to Chile. Jurgen Klinsmann's USA, the guest tournament hosts, are delighted to have got this far but the coach insisted yesterday that now they are in the semi-finals, they have to give it their best shot to make the final. Klinsmann has selection worries going into this one - Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya and Bobby Wood are all ineligible through suspension - big losses for the the US.
Welcome to our live minute by minute coverage of the Copa América Centenario 2016 first semi final as USA face Argentina in the NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas) with kick off at 03:00 CET.
Preview of USA - Argentina
USA
Given the recent pressure mounting on US coach Jurgen Klinsmannm, reaching the semi final of the 2016 Copa America will take some of the weight off the German coach with his pre competition target being a semi-final placing despite his side failing to impress in many stages of the competition.
It took some magic from Seattle Sounders player Clint Dempsey to over come a stubborn Ecuador side in the quarter final and the baggage from that match leaves Klinsmann without tow key players due to an accumulation of cards. Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood were suspended following bookings and will miss tonight's game in Texas
Even the most optimistic US Soccer fans don't expect a positive result from tonight's game against the all powerful Argentine which in turn will assist the US side in being able to deliver a pressure free performance in front of a passionate home crowd in Houston.
Argentina
The path for Gerardo 'Tata' Martino's team has been straightforward with the "Albiceleste" steam-rolling all that has been put in their path in this Copa America 2016. Despite 20 minutes of dominance in the quarter final, errors cost Venezuela dearly and strikers with the quality of Messi and Higuaín are ruthless when presented with half chances.
It took Argentina just 8 minutes to extinguish "Vinotinto" aspirations with the Barcelona and Napoli striking due respectively on target for the Argentine side. A late goal from Lamela ensured that there would be no way back for the Venezuelan side.
Tata's Argentina are not just firm favorites for tonight's game in Texas but also to lift the Copa America trophy in Sunday's final. They may have to do this without the services of the sttill injured Ángel Di María but have enough strength in depth to ensure that the PSG player's absence is not felt..