Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has given his verdict after scoring his first international goal during Argentina’s Copa America clash against Ecuador.
The game ended in a 1-1 draw before Argentina went on to emerge winners on penalties.
The Albiceleste opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break through Martinez. The United defender headed it home at the far post after Liverpool’s Alex Mac Allister had flicked on a corner from Lionel Messi.
Ecuador star Kevin Rodriguez restored parity in the dying embers of the match to force a penalty shootout. Ultimately, Lionel Scaloni’s men prevailed to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.
Nicolas Otamendi, Mac Allister and Gonzalo Montiel all scored their penalties, while Lionel Messi was the only Argentina player to miss from the spot.
Martinez was on the pitch for 78 minutes before he was replaced by Otamendi.
The 26-year-old United star spoke to reporters after the final whistle and reacted to his goal.
He said, “I’m incredibly excited to have scored my first goal in this shirt.”
“Walter (Samuel) told me that I had to go to the far post on the first corner kick and that’s what happened.”
Martinez added, “We were fair winners. And it’s a plus to have the goalkeeper we have. Today we couldn’t play very well, but we have a field and a neighborhood. When we can’t play, we score. We adapt.”
The Albiceleste are now set to face either Venezuela or Canada next week. Meanwhile, Brazil will take on Facundo Pellistri’s Uruguay in the quarter-final stage while Colombia will meet Panama to complete the last-eight draw.
Martinez’s United teammate, Alejandro Garnacho, was an unused substitute vs. Ecuador at the NRG Stadium.
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