Lionel Messi clinches another feather in his cap
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HOUSTON: (APP) Lionel Messi clinches another feather in his cap
Lionel Messi became Argentina's all-time record goal scorer as the two-time world champions outclassed the United States 4-0 to reach the Copa America Centenario final here Tuesday.
Messi curled in a magnificent 32nd-minute free-kick to take his total to 55 goals as the United States' campaign ended with an emphatic defeat in front of a 70,858 crowd at Houston's NRG Stadium.
The five-time world player of the year now has five goals in this Copa America as he aims to lead Argentina to their first major title in 23 years.
The Barcelona superstar also created Argentina's opening goal for Ezequiel Lavezzi and was involved in the build-up for their third, scored by Gonzalo Higuain in the 50th minute. Messi then laid on the pass for Higuain's second four minutes from time.
"We've been playing well from day one and we deserve to be in the final," said a delighted Messi, dedicating his goals tally to the work of his teammates.
"I'm happy to have the record, and I'm happy to play with the teammates that have made it possible. I owe it to them," said Messi, who is now one clear of Gabriel Batistuta's mark of 54 goals.
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann, meanwhile, said his team had showed Argentina "too much respect" after a display which saw them finish with zero shots on or off target.
"I think in general we had too much respect," Klinsmann said while hailing Argentina as the "number one team in the world."
"I told the guys there's nothing to be ashamed of. We have to learn and move forward," Klinsman said. "We have to keep our heads up and swallow it. But Argentina are a special team."
Argentina will now face either Chile or Colombia in Sunday's final at East Rutherford, New Jersey -- their third major final in three years after reaching the finals of the 2015 Copa America and 2014 World Cup.
A disastrous start for the United States saw the hosts fall behind after only three minutes when they gifted possession to Messi on the edge of the area.
The Argentina captain instantly spotted that Lavezzi was unmarked and lofted a first time pass through to the China-based midfielder to head home.
