Argentina tops Canada 2-0 to advance to Copa América final

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Lionel Messi and Argentina are heading back to the Copa América final.

The defending Copa champions beat North American upstart Canada 1-0 on Tuesday in front of a sold-out crowd of 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium to advance to Sunday’s finale in Miami.

The Albiceleste will play for a record 16th title against either Colombia or Uruguay. Julián Álvarez scored the goal that put Argentina in front in the 22nd minute, and Messi doubled Argentina's advantage when he scored his first goal of the tournament early in the second half.

Here are a few thoughts on Tuesday’s match.

Messi’s somewhat fluky goal — the GOAT deflected a driven shot by Enzo Fernández past Reds' keeper Maxime Crépeau — effectively sealed the win for Lionel Scaloni’s side, but it was Álvarez’s beautiful strike that sent Argentina on its way.

Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul started the play with a defense-splitting long pass to Álvarez that was even prettier than the finish, but the Manchester City man still had work to do.  Álvarez settled De Paul’s feed expertly and, with Canadian center back Moïse Bombito draped all over him, shrugged off the challenge and slotted the ball past Crépeau:

It’s not accurate to say that Canada was the better team over the first 20 minutes of the match. But they did have the better of the chances before the opening goal.

Content to sit in a compact defensive shell and attack on the counter, Jesse March’s team got into dangerous positions on multiple occasions despite having just 35-percent of the possession. Speedy winger Jacob Shaffelburg continued to impress by producing a pair of early opportunities, and forward Jonathan David squandered the Canadians’ best look just five minutes before they fell