June 18, 2016 – Lionel Messi scores for Argentina in first Gillette Stadium appearance

Leo Messi converted in the 60^th minute, after Gonzalo Higuain (8^’, 28^’) opened the scoring for Argentina in a 4-1 victory over Venezuela. Jose Salomon Rondon cut the deficit in the 70^th minute and substitute Erik Lamela added Argentina’s final goal in the 71^st minute. Sergio Romero saved an attempted chipped penalty kick by Venezuela’s Luis Seijas in the 43^rd minute.

Argentina, playing in Foxborough for the first time since the 1994 World Cup, went on to blank the U.S., 4-0, in the semifinals, then lost to Chile on penalty kicks after playing to a 0-0 draw in the title match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., June 26, 2016.

Argentina 4:1 Venezuela, Copa America Centenario quarterfinals, Gillette Stadium (Att.: 59,183)

ARGENTINA: Sergio Romero; Gabriel Mercado, Ramiro Funes Mori, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo; Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano, Augusto Fernandez, Ever Banega (Lucas Biglia 80^’), Nicolas Gaitan (Erik Lamela 67^’), Gonzalo Higuain (Sergio Aguero 74^’).

VENEZUELA: Dani Hernandez; Alexander Gonzalez, Wilker Angel, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, Ralf Feltscher; Alejandro Guerra, Tomas Rincon (Jose Manuel Velazquez 85^’), Arquimedes Figuera, Luis Seijas (Juan Añor 54^’); Jose Salomon Rondon, Josef Martinez (Yonathan Del Valle 80^’).

Referee: Roberto Garcia. Goals: Higuain 8^’, 28^’, Messi 60^’, Rondon 70^’, Lamela 71^’. Attendance: 59,183.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY