Lautaro Martínez scores twice and Argentina playing without Messi beats Peru 2-0 to end group play

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Lautaro Martínez scored twice and Argentina, playing without the injured Lionel Messi, wrapped up Copa America group play with a 2-0 win over Peru on Saturday night.

A nicely placed through ball from Ángel Di María led to Martínez's first goal in the 47th minute. Martínez was embraced by teammates afterward, then went to hug Messi, who was standing near Argentina's bench.

“I went to hug Leo for everything he means to us,” Martínez said through an interpreter.

Martínez doubled Argentina’s lead in the 86th minute and now has a tournament-leading four goals.

“Every time I wear this shirt I enjoy it," Martínez said. "Many want to wear this shirt. I work to show the coach that I am ready to play when he needs me.”

Messi did not play as he nurses a leg injury suffered in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile on Tuesday that clinched a quarterfinal berth for the defending champions. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was also absent after being suspended because of his team’s late second-half return to the pitch in its previous two Copa matches.

Saturday, the Albiceleste walked out for the second half just a few seconds before Peru.

Argentina assistant Walter Samuel, who took Scaloni's place, said after the match that Messi is still day to day.

“I talked to him, and he’s getting better," Samuel said through an interpreter, "but it’s been just a couple of days and it’s too early to tell. We want to continue to listen to him and the doctors."

Playing with nine changes to its starting lineup, Argentina controlled possession (74%) for the third straight match and had six shots on goal, while being held scoreless in the first half for the third straight match.

The game was played in front of about 64,000 fans at the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium, which will also host the final on July 14. Most fans cheered for Argentina while wearing different versions of Messi's No. 10 jersey.

Canada played Chile to a scoreless draw in another Group A match on Saturday in Orlando, Florida, to also advance to the next round, which will be the country's first Copa America quarterfinal.

Argentina will learn its knockout stage opponent when Group B finishes on Sunday. Group leader Venezuela plays Jamaica at Austin, Texas, and second-place Ecuador plays Mexico at Glendale, Arizona.

Argentina will face the runner-up of Group B on Thursday at Houston.

Nicolás Tagliafico appeared to score for Argentina in the 55th minute after tapping in the ball at the back post, but the officials ruled that goaltender Pedro Gallese, who made four saves, was blocked and the goal was disallowed.

Argentina had another chance when the team was awarded a penalty after a handball in the box by Jesús Castillo. But Leandro Paredes blasted the ball into the right post, and the score remained 1-0.

Argentina, aiming for a record 16th Copa America title, won all three of its matches in group play. Goaltender Emiliano Martínez did not allow a goal in the round and made six saves. Argentina hoisted the championship trophy in 2021 after beating Brazil 1-0 in the title game.

Peru was held without a goal Saturday for the third game of the tournament and has no goals in 11 of its last 14 matches. Peru played a scoreless draw against Chile in its Copa America opener, then lost 1-0 to Canada. The team reached the semifinals in 2021 before losing to Brazil.

“I believe that Peru’s performance today was the weakest of all three games,” Peru coach Jorge Fossati said through an interpreter.

AP Copa America coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/copa-america

Argentina's Lionel Messi looks on at the end of a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina's Lautaro Martínez (22) scores his side's second goal against Peru during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, and Rodrigo De Paul, right, sit on the bench during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, and Rodrigo De Paul wave to fans during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's Lautaro Martínez (22) scores his side's second goal against Peru during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's Lautaro Martínez (22) celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Peru with teammates during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's Lautaro Martínez (22) celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Peru with teammate Angel Di Maria during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's Lautaro Martínez, center, celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Peru teammates during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez makes a save during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez makes a save during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's Angel Di Maria (11) and Peru's Alexander Callens battle for the ball during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina's Lionel Messi stands on the bench during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentina's Lautaro Martínez celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Peru during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s government plans to resume negotiations with the U.S. government this week, President Nicolás Maduro announced Monday, less than a month before a highly anticipated election in which he and his party are facing their toughest challenge in decades.

Maduro, who is seeking a third term, wants the U.S. government to lift crippling economic sanctions that were imposed over the last decade in an effort to topple him. He characterized the dialogue as “urgent” during his weekly TV show.

The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

“I have received the proposal during two continuous months from the United States government to reestablish talks and direct dialogue,” Maduro said. "After thinking about it for two months, I have accepted, and next Wednesday, talks will restart with the United States government to comply with the agreements signed in Qatar and to reestablish the terms of the urgent dialogue.”

Maduro's government had held parallel talks with the Biden administration and with the U.S.-backed Unitary Platform opposition coalition. But they were suspended as he reneged on promises, including to improve conditions ahead of the election, and his government accused the U.S. of not fulfilling portions of agreements.

Some negotiations with the U.S. happened in Qatar. It was not immediately clear where the latest round of dialogue will take place.

The July 28 election is shaping up to be the biggest challenge the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela has faced in its 25-year dominance that began when the fiery Hugo Chávez became president. The party wants to maintain its absolute government control for six more years, but its base is divided, diminished and disappointed after experiencing a complex social, economic and political crisis for 11 years — the entirety of Maduro's presidency.

Ten candidates, including Maduro, will be on the ballot. The only contender with a real chance of defeating the president is Edmundo González Urrutia, who represents the opposition’s Unitary Platform coalition.

Last year, Maduro entered into an agreement with the opposition coalition to work toward improving conditions for a free and fair election. But he changed course as the meteoric rise of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado turned into a real threat to his reelection prospects.

The U.S. granted Maduro’s government relief from sanctions on its state-run oil, gas and mining sectors after he entered into the agreement with the opposition. But the Biden administration ended the relief as Maduro's ruling party continued to use its control over all government institutions to tilt the balance in his favor, including by blocking Machado's candidacy.

Machado's chosen substitute was barred from the ballot, too. She and the coalition are now backing González, a former diplomat.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attends a signing an agreement to respect the results of the upcoming presidential elections, at the National Electoral Council headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

President of Venezuela's National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez, center, speaks during a press conference alongside legislator Genesis Garvett, left, and Governor Rafael Lacava in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 1, 2024. Rodriguez announced that the campaign for the July 28 presidential election will start on July 4. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks after signing an agreement to respect the results of the upcoming presidential elections, at the National Electoral Council headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)