<p>Lionel Messi scored a free kick and served up two assists as Argentina beat Ecuador 3-0 on Saturday to set themselves up for a Copa America semi-final against Colombia.</p>.<p>Messi missed a golden chance in the first half but set up Rodrigo De Paul five minutes before half-time and then did the same for Lautaro Martinez five minutes from the end to give Argentina a deserved victory.</p>.<p>The Barcelona player then got his second free kick off the tournament in stoppage time to round out a scoreline that was more convincing than the performance.</p>.<p>It was his 76th goal for Argentina, taking him to within one of Pele's South American record.</p>.<p>"I've always said that individual prizes are secondary, we're here for something else," Messi said. "We have an objective and we're focused on that."</p>.<p>"It was a hard match, we know how difficult an opponent they can be. The important thing is we've taken another step forward."</p>.<p>Argentina were unbeaten in 17 games coming into the game and they should have put the result beyond doubt earlier than they did.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/multi-storey-mural-for-hometown-hero-lionel-messi-1004040.html" target="_blank">Multi-storey mural for hometown hero Lionel Messi</a></strong></p>.<p>Martinez and German Pezzella both came close in the opening 20 minutes and Hernan Galindez made one superb double save from Nicolas Gonzalez with the score at 1-0.</p>.<p>More surprisingly, Messi missed the best chance of the game when he was through on the keeper but saw his shot come back off the post.</p>.<p>However, the diminutive striker made up for it five minutes before half-time when, with the Ecuadoran goalkeeper stranded after making a tackle outside the box, he fed De Paul, who stroked the ball into the net for his first international goal in 25 appearances.</p>.<p>Messi then set up Martinez to finish clinically five minutes from the end, before stepping up himself to curl home a free kick in stoppage time, after Piero Hincapie hauled down Angel Di Maria and was shown a red card.</p>.<p>Underdogs Ecuador came into the match without a win in their last six games but they had chances to score against a team seeking their first Copa America triumph since 1993.</p>.<p>Enner Valencia in particular will be angry at himself for sending two glancing headers wide from close in during the first 45 minutes.</p>.<p>The result means Argentina will face Colombia, who overcame Uruguay on penalties earlier in the day, in the second Copa America semi-final on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Brazil play Peru in the first semi-final 24 hours before.</p>
<p>Lionel Messi scored a free kick and served up two assists as Argentina beat Ecuador 3-0 on Saturday to set themselves up for a Copa America semi-final against Colombia.</p>.<p>Messi missed a golden chance in the first half but set up Rodrigo De Paul five minutes before half-time and then did the same for Lautaro Martinez five minutes from the end to give Argentina a deserved victory.</p>.<p>The Barcelona player then got his second free kick off the tournament in stoppage time to round out a scoreline that was more convincing than the performance.</p>.<p>It was his 76th goal for Argentina, taking him to within one of Pele's South American record.</p>.<p>"I've always said that individual prizes are secondary, we're here for something else," Messi said. "We have an objective and we're focused on that."</p>.<p>"It was a hard match, we know how difficult an opponent they can be. The important thing is we've taken another step forward."</p>.<p>Argentina were unbeaten in 17 games coming into the game and they should have put the result beyond doubt earlier than they did.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/multi-storey-mural-for-hometown-hero-lionel-messi-1004040.html" target="_blank">Multi-storey mural for hometown hero Lionel Messi</a></strong></p>.<p>Martinez and German Pezzella both came close in the opening 20 minutes and Hernan Galindez made one superb double save from Nicolas Gonzalez with the score at 1-0.</p>.<p>More surprisingly, Messi missed the best chance of the game when he was through on the keeper but saw his shot come back off the post.</p>.<p>However, the diminutive striker made up for it five minutes before half-time when, with the Ecuadoran goalkeeper stranded after making a tackle outside the box, he fed De Paul, who stroked the ball into the net for his first international goal in 25 appearances.</p>.<p>Messi then set up Martinez to finish clinically five minutes from the end, before stepping up himself to curl home a free kick in stoppage time, after Piero Hincapie hauled down Angel Di Maria and was shown a red card.</p>.<p>Underdogs Ecuador came into the match without a win in their last six games but they had chances to score against a team seeking their first Copa America triumph since 1993.</p>.<p>Enner Valencia in particular will be angry at himself for sending two glancing headers wide from close in during the first 45 minutes.</p>.<p>The result means Argentina will face Colombia, who overcame Uruguay on penalties earlier in the day, in the second Copa America semi-final on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Brazil play Peru in the first semi-final 24 hours before.</p>