Just as Argentina’s women did 24 hours earlier, Fernando Batista’s under-23s booked their place in the Panamerican Games Final with an emphatic 3-0 win over Uruguay.
Not much was expected from Batista’s group with so many players made unavailable prior to the tournament but led by the inspirational Adolfo Gaich, Argentina will be playing for the gold medal on Saturday.
With four goals in the three games leading up to Thursday’s semi-final, Gaich was in irresistible form and it took only six minutes for the San Lorenzo striker to add another. Uruguay hadn’t conceded a goal in topping their group but when Marcelo Herrera’s deflected cross fell in behind the centre backs, it was Gaich who reacted quickest to poke the ball past Santiago Mele.
#Lima2019EnTyCSports | A los 6′, ¡gol de Argentina! Un tanto de goleador, el de Adolfo Gaich. Muy atento en el área. La Albiceleste derrota 1-0 a Uruguay en las Semifinales. pic.twitter.com/1BA7tD87rN
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) August 8, 2019
With the game opening up, Argentina’s attacking quartet of Gaich, Valenzuela, Nicolás González and Agustín Urzi combined leading to a shot by Gaich striking the arm of Uruguay captain Bruno Mendez. Carlos Valenzuela, one of the revelations of the tournament, stepped up and with the utmost confidence produced a panenka to double the lead.
Things only got worse for Uruguay soon after when Emanuel Gularte was sent off for a foul on Gaich and Argentina knew they would never have a better opportunity.
#Lima2019EnTyCSports | ¡El penal que convirtió Valenzuela! Distinción, clase, efectividad. La picó. Y Argentina derrota 2-0 a Uruguay en las Semifinales del fútbol masculino. pic.twitter.com/wG7ONZpkAO
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) August 8, 2019
Comfortable from there on, Argentina added a third late on with Gaich rifling in a simple rebound, his sixth of the campaign.
#Lima2019EnTyCSports | En el final del partido, de nuevo, Adolfo Gaich. Doblete para el goleador, 3-0 sobre Uruguay, y el pase a la Final para la Selección Argentina de Fernando Batista. Espera Honduras, por la dorada. pic.twitter.com/qGPHgu3Mim
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) August 8, 2019
golazo argentino 