Emiliano Martinez was Argentina's penalty shootout hero once more as they edged out Ecuador to reach the Copa America semi-finals, despite Lionel Messi's failed Panenka attempt.
2024 Copa América
5-3
Penalty Shootout
Match Report
Emiliano Martinez shootout heroics spares Messi's blushes.
The reigning champions survived a huge scare at NRG Stadium, where Kevin Rodriguez's stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Lisandro Martinez's first-half header to take the last-eight tie the distance.
It appeared La Albiceleste's title defence was in doubt when Messi, back in the side after missing the Peru match with a hamstring injury, chipped the first penalty against the crossbar.
But Emiliano Martinez, who played starring roles from the spot during La Albiceleste's 2022 World Cup triumph, made saves to deny Angel Mena and Alan Minda, before Nicolas Otamendi struck the decisive kick for Lionel Scaloni's side.
Felix Sanchez's Ecuador had not scored in a Copa America quarter-final since 1997, but they made the brighter start in Houston.
Cristian Romero just about denied Moises Caicedo a shot on goal, before Emiliano Martinez came to Argentina's rescue as he blocked Jeremy Sarmiento's effort from a tight angle.
However, the reigning champions took the lead in the 35th minute when Alexis Mac Allister flicked Messi's corner towards the far post, where the unmarked Lisandro Martinez nodded into an empty net.
Ecuador were handed a gilt-edge opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot just after the hour mark, when Rodrigo De Paul was adjudged to have handled in the box.
However, they could not capitalise as Enner Valencia struck Emiliano Martinez's right post with his spot-kick, despite sending the Argentina goalkeeper the wrong way.
But there was to be a dramatic late twist in stoppage time as Rodriguez glanced home John Yeboah's cross, with La Tricolor almost completing a sensational turnaround with Jordy Caicedo heading narrowly wide with the last kick of normal time.
They landed the first blow of the shootout when Messi's attempted Panenka clipped the top of the crossbar, but it proved a false dawn as Emiliano Martinez took centre stage yet again to swing the shootout back in Argentina's favour, before they scraped over the line.
Reigning champions scrape through by the skin of their teeth
Argentina are the first side through to the last four, and their title defence remains on track, but only just.
They broke the deadlock through Lisandro Martinez, who was in the right place to open his senior international account, while becoming the first Argentina defender to score in the Copa America since Victor Cuesta eight years ago.
Emiliano Martinez looked set to earn a fourth clean sheet of this tournament, and become the second Argentina goalkeeper after Sergio Romero to reach that tally in separate editions, but Rodriguez had other ideas with his dramatic equaliser.
Nevertheless, after Messi missed in yet another Copa America shootout - famously doing so in the 2016 final defeat to Chile - the goalkeeper dug his skipper out of a hole with two smart saves eventually proving the difference.
Argentina hoodoo continues as Ecuador pay the penalty
Ecuador knew they needed to rewrite history to achieve a positive result here. La Tricolor had never beaten Argentina in the Copa America, losing 11 and drawing five of their 16 previous attempts, while they had won just five of the 40 meetings overall.
Despite conceding in the opening half for the first time in this tournament, they outshot their opponents (four to three) in the first 45 minutes, but the last of those efforts came in the 16th minute.
Though they snatched a dramatic equaliser, Valencia's earlier penalty miss was a sign of things to come, as the wait for a first semi-final appearance since 1993 goes on.
Nevertheless, Sanchez's side depart the United States having made history. Indeed, at just 17 years and 61 days old, rising star Kendry Paez became the youngest player to appear in a Copa America quarter-final.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Match Event for Argentina vs Ecuador
90+4' Valencia misses the penalty Huge chance missed by Valencia here
90' Match Event for Argentina vs Ecuador
90' MESSI MISSED THE PENALTY
0' Match Event for Argentina vs Ecuador
0' Match Event for Argentina vs Ecuador
6' Ecuador finding its chances early,Caicedo dribbled past Argentina players
10' Mac Allister's foul on Caicedo
12' Great skill from Mac Allister
15' UNREAL BIG SAVE BY EMILIANO MARTINEZ!
17' BIG CHANCE WASTED BY ECUADOR!
19' Match Event for Argentina vs Ecuador
22' Foul on Valencia by Romero
27' Chance for Argentina, Enzo Fernandez header goes wide
30' Yellow card to Valencia!
34' MESSI SINDS ENZO FERNANDEZ AWAY ON GOAL, NO GOAL!
35' LISANDRO MARTÍNEZ CARRYING ARGENTINA ONCE AGAIN!! Argentina 1-0 Ecuador
41' Huge chance for Enzo he misses it, Messi is not happy with Enzo
45' Highlight from Argentina vs Ecuador
47' Mac Allister is struggling to breath as he was shot right in his stomach.
52' Romero and Caicedo both down. Caicedo is receiving treatment.
55' Highlight from Argentina vs Ecuador
65' 65' Julian Alvarez comes onto the pitch for Lautaro Martinez
67' Messi flicks it to Alvarez
70' Highlight from Argentina vs Ecuador
75' Yellow Card! Moisés Caicedo booked
83' Match Event for Argentina vs Ecuador
91' Ecuador HAVE DONE IT. THEY HAVE EQUALIZED IN 90minute! Argentina 1-1 Ecuador
96' A GREAT CHANCE MISSED BY ECUADOR!!
Line-ups
Argentina XI: Messi, E. Martinez, Tagliafico, De Paul, Lautaro, Nahuel Molina, Romero, N. Gonzalez, Mac Allister, Martinez, Enzo Fernández
Subs: Di Maria, F. Armani, Otamendi, Gerónimo Rulli, Paredes, Pezzella, Acuna, G. Rodriguez, Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Gonzalo Montiel, Julián Álvarez, Alejandro Garnacho, Valentín Carboni
Ecuador XI: Alexander Domínguez, Enner Valencia, Carlos Gruezo, Alan Franco, Angelo Preciado, Félix Torres, Jeremy Sarmiento, Piero Hincapié, Willian Pacho, Moisés Caicedo, Kendry Páez
Subs: Ángel Mena, Hernán Galíndez, Joao Ortiz, Janner Corozo, Jordy Caicedo, José Cifuentes, Moisés Ramírez, Jackson Porozo, John Yeboah, José Andrés Hurtado, Alan Minda, Layan Loor, Joel Ordóñez, Andrés Micolta, Kevin Rodríguez