Tournament favorite Argentina unleashed their most devastating form Tuesday in the semifinals of the 2015 Copa America by demolishing a tough Paraguayan eleven, 6-1, to set up a final showdown with host Chile on July 4.
Winger Ángel Di María got a double while striker Sergio Agüero, midfielder Javier Pastore, defender Marcos Rojo, and substitute forward Gonzalo Higuaín each found the back of the net to fill up the scoreboard.
Palmeiras striker Lucas Barrios subbed in for the injured La Albirroja captain Roque Santa Cruz at about the half-hour mark with the La Albiceleste already leading by two, 2-0, from goals by Rojo and Pastore in the 15th and 27th minutes both on excellent passing plays by Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.
Barrios managed to find Sergio Romero's net just before halftime to make it closer at 2-1. However, the second half clearly belonged to Gerardo Martino and his boys.
Two minutes into the second, Pastore executed a pass to Di María who left-footed his first goal of the match. Six minutes after, Messi made a fool of the whole Paraguayan defense to feed the Manchester United winger as he scored his second goal.
Messi made an otherworldly dribble, making two defenders tackle each other as they tried to stop him, via Bleacher Report.
In the 80th it was Di María's turn to assist as Agüero made a lovely header, then quarterfinals hero Higuaín completed the 6-point Argentine output.
Messi did not score a goal, but he was responsible for most of them and was considered as the "best player on the pitch", as per Yahoo Sports. Every play started with the Argentine captain just as Martino planned it.
La Albiceleste will face La Roja on Saturday at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago for the Copa America trophy.