That's all for our live coverage from Soldier Field, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick off the bench as the Albiceleste cruise past the 10-man Canaleros to book their place in the knockout stage. Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero added the others as Panama are beaten down in the second half, following the arrival of the Barcelona forward.
FULL-TIME: ARGENTINA 5-0 PANAMA.
M. Rojo
Assist
A second assist for Rojo.
S. Agüero
Goal
HOW ABOUT ANOTHER?! The run from Aguero opens up space for Messi on the left, and the Barcelona forward plays a peach of a pass into the centre, which is knocked into path of the Manchester City striker by Rojo, and Aguero slots home a simple finish.
M. Rojo
Assist
Rojo credited with the assist.
L. Messi
Goal
A HAT-TRICK OFF THE BENCH! It's not every day you see that! Messi shows incredible composure in the box and terrific footwork in a tight space to switch onto his left and curl a delicious finish beyond Penedo at the far post!
Argentina are closing up shop now as their focus shifts to the final group match against pointless Bolivia. They will likely top the group even with a loss, but can secure a first-place finish in Group D with a draw.
AGUERO SCORES... but it won't count. The offside flag denies the Manchester City striker his goal off the bench, as he started his run a half-second too early. There was no need for it, as he would have been through regardless.
STAT: Argentina are unbeaten in their last 11 Copa America games, excluding penalties, winning five and drawing six.
Panama's frustration has understandably built up over the course of this match, but if they're not careful they may end the game with nine men. They can hardly afford to have another player suspended ahead of a decisive final match against Chile.
L. Henríquez
Yellow Card
Messi wins a free-kick with some quick footwork atop the area, after Aguero had opened up space with a clever run off the ball. This is about 25 yards out, just under perhaps, and Messi will take it... Gomez is booked for his foul.
L. Messi
Goal
GOLAZO! MESSI WITH A BRACE! Exceptional placement from the free-kick, up and over the wall, as the forward's effort curls just inside the near post! No keeper in the world is stopping that!
A. Arroyo
A. Cooper
Both teams out of subs now as Abidel Arroyo replaces Cooper, who will miss the final group match due to suspension.
S. Agüero
G. Higuaín
Sergio Aguero's arrival is greeted by a warm applause, as he replaces a frustrated Higuain.
L. Tejada
B. Pérez
Luis Tejada, Panama's all-time top scorer, replaces Perez for the final 15 minutes.
DREADFUL! ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL! Argentina are caught, rather inexcusably, with everyone forward for a free-kick, allowing Panama to break two-against-one. Quintero holds onto the ball way too long, instead of playing Cooper through - who busted a gut to join the move - and a heavy touch eventually allows Mascherano to break it up!
STAT: In the opening game against Chile, Argentina won their 116th Copa America game, more than any other nation in the history of this competition.
Well that should do it for Argentina, who get the impact they needed off the bench from Messi to extend their lead and essentially book their place in the quarter-finals barring a historic collapse over the final 20 minutes.
G. Higuaín
Assist
Higuain credited with one of the strangest assists he'll get in his career, inadvertently playing Messi through on goal with what should very well have been called a handball.
L. Messi
Goal
ARGENTINA WITH A FOOT THROUGH TO THE QUARTERS! Panama undo all their great defensive work with a careless giveaway atop the area. Miller's clearance hits off the arm of Higuain, though no handball is called, and straight to Messi who is clean through on goal - and you know he's not missing a gift like that.
N. Gaitán
Yellow Card
Frustration sets in for Gaitan after losing the ball, as he's booked for a sloppy challenge on Henriquez.
Well, the arrival of Messi has provided little spark, both practically and mentally for Argentina, as they continue to struggle to find their way through. Nicolas Otamendi's first half header is all that's separating the two sides right now, despite Panama playing with 10 men for over 30 minutes now.
STAT: Lionel Messi is playing in his first non-friendly match in the United States.
L. Messi
A. Fernández
HERE COMES MESSI! Soldier Field erupts in applause as the Barcelona forward enters the fray! He'll have 30 minutes to put this crowd into an even further frenzy. Augusto is off in his place, so Argentina are really going to force the issue now.
Decent spell, this, from Panama. They get a pair of chances from set-pieces, as a free-kick is put behind for a corner. The subsequent delivery is charged down by a diving Perez, but Otamendi does just enough to put him off!
Argentina are dominating possession in this second half, but there's absolutely no urgency about them on the front foot. Playing with the lead negates the need to push the tempo to a certain degree, but Panama are playing down a man so it's a bit puzzling to see them slow the match to this degree.
ONE TOO MANY TOUCHES! Higuain is sprung through behind the defence, but he though he had more time than he actually did, which allows Miller to slide in from behind with an exceptional challenge and knock the ball behind! Higuain has to score there!
STAT: Angel Di Maria has been involved in six of Argentina’s last seven Copa America goals, scoring three and assisting three more.
The loudest cheer of the night comes just past the 50-minute mark as Messi gets off the bench and starts warming up. Argentina need a bit of inspiration, and there's arguably no better player in the world to provide it.
DISASTER AVERTED! Rojo's cross in from the left is wildly swiped at by Baloy, sending it back towards his own goal. If there was any more pace on that, Penedo is beaten, but luckily for the defender his keeper is able to collect.
A. Cooper
Yellow Card
Why not? Seventh yellow card of the match as we pick up where we left off. Cooper flies into a challenge late on Gaitan, and he too will be suspended for the next match. That's four players suspended for Panama against Chile! Who's left?
Here we go again!
Argentina in good position to move top of Group D as Otamendi's goal has them a goal up at the interval, while they're also a man up following Godoy's sending off. All in all it was a first half lacking in quality, closer resembling an American football match - but no, it's not the Chicago Bears playing this evening at Soldier Field.
HALF-TIME: ARGENTINA 1-0 PANAMA.
There will be two minutes added on at the end of this first half.
E. Lamela
Á. Di María
After a couple of uneventful minutes of 10-against-10, Lamela trots onto the pitch as Di Maria gives way. That's a big blow for the Albiceleste if the PSG forward will miss any further time.
Tough blow for Argentina as Di Maria pulls up lame - and he has had muscle problems recently. He signals to the bench asking for a change, and that sends the crowd into a frenzy as they chant Lionel Messi's name. It's Erik Lamela who's warming up though, so the crowd may have to wait a bit longer.
Argentina aren't looking all that threatening despite their man advantage. Panama have continued to keep their shape admirably in defence, keeping the Albiceleste on the fringes. Banega and Gaitan have been close to invisible in the final third.
STAT: Defeating Bolivia 2-1 on MD1, Panama became the first nation to win a game on their Copa America debut among sides outside of CONMEBOL organisations.
STRAIGHT AT THE KEEPER! Di Maria's outswinging corner is met by the head of Mercado, who leads Argentina in scoring in World Cup qualifying, but he doesn't make the most of this opportunity, sending a header straight into the waiting arms of Penedo.
Hernan Dario Gomez looks on in disgust as his team now have a mountain to climb. Their prospects were looking good just a few minutes ago, but they're going to face an onslaught of Argentina pressure now over the final hour of the match.
PANAMA DOWN TO 10 MEN! It's such a stupid one from Godoy who lashes out at Gaitan, slapping the winger in the face. He's already on a yellow, and doesn't put up any hint of a protest as the referee shows him a second yellow!
The tempo of the match has been virtually non-existent given the persistent fouling from both sides. Argentina have arguably been second-best since taking the lead, as Panama have done an excellent job of clogging the midfield to suffocate the Albiceleste.
ROMERO COMES UP BIG! Panama win a free-kick just a few yards to the left of the Argentina box, and Camargo smashes a terrific low strike at goal, which Romero manages to parry! Perez was running onto it, and that would have been a goal had he gotten even the slightest of touches!
The importance of this match for Panama has increased ten-fold. Should they fail to pick up a point, a showdown with Chile in the final match would determine which side goes through, but the Concacaf side would be without both Felipe Baloy and Blas Perez, their two key men, as a result of suspension.
STAT: These two sides have only met once previously, in a 2009 friendly. Argentina brought an entirely domestic-based side, but still won 3-1. Gonzalo Bergessio netted a brace, with Matias Defederico the other scorer for the Albiceleste.
A. Godoy
Yellow Card
A late challenge from Godoy sees him booked! The fifth caution of the match and the third for Panama.
M. Camargo
V. Pimentel
Pimentel is taken off on a stretcher as Miguel Camargo replaces him on the pitch.
OUCH! It's one of those 'turn away if you're squeamish' moments as Pimentel hyperextends his knee while trying to get on the end of a free-kick at the far post. It's a nasty injury and his team-mate immediately signals to the bench for a change.
F. Baloy
Yellow Card
Baloy is also shown yellow for his part in the altercation, which means he will miss the next match.
J. Mascherano
Yellow Card
Mascherano continues chatting as he drops into defence. Baloy takes exception and gets right in his face, before the Barcelona man goes to ground rather embarrassingly. He's booked for his theatrics.
Panama have responded admirably to falling behind. Perez is at the centre of everything they do, and he wins another free-kick following a Mascherano challenge. The pair come together after the fact, and those are two very passionate individuals going at it.
A. Fernández
Yellow Card
Argentina showing they won't back down in the physicality department, and Augusto is booked for his troubles as he goes through the back of Godoy on a challenge.
SCRAMBLE AT THE BACK! Set-pieces proving a threat for Panama early on! Another delivery causes panic at the back, and so nearly falls for Perez inside the area. Argentina break quickly following the scramble, but a lovely sprint and recovery from Godoy sniffs out the counter.
This is getting a bit out of hand, all the fouls from Panama. They're averaging close to one a minute right now and they will certainly live to regret this approach if it continues on this path.
STAT: The Albiceleste have conceded only two goals in their last six matches in this competition, keeping a clean sheet four times in the process.
Á. Di María
Assist
Di Maria is credited with the assist, and he's now been involved in all three of Argentina's goals at this Copa.
N. Otamendi
Goal
OTAMENDI MAKES THEM PAY! Di Maria places the free-kick onto the head of the centre-half, who sends a glancing header past Penedo at the far post! Argentina lead!
B. Pérez
Yellow Card
There's the physical approach of this Panama side in midfield, as Perez makes an unnecessarily late challenge on Mascherano, picking up a yellow card. He was booked in the first match as well, so he will be suspended for the game against Chile.
FIRST CHANCE TO PANAMA! Route one football from the Concacaf outfit as Perez wins them a corner. The delivery is flicked on towards the far post for Baloy, but the whistle sounds as the defender is called for a foul, though it's not at all clear what he did wrong there.
Panama show their hand early, as Baloy catches Mercado with a hard challenge from behind. The Concacaf side are going to make it as difficult as possible on Argentina tonight, and if that means getting physical with them, then so be it.
AND WE'RE OFF! Panama, in red, get us underway, attacking left to right, with Argentina in all white.
Wonderful turnout in Chicago for this Group D match, with both teams represented well in what is close to a full stadium. The anthems are well-received and kick-off is just moments away!
Hernan Dario Gomez makes a pair of changes to his team, while also altering the formation given the step up in opponents. Harold Cummings, who did pick up a yellow card in the opener, is replaced by the experienced Luis Hernandez - who makes his 91st appearance for the national team. Striker Gabriel Torres is also withdrawn, as Valentin Pimentel comes into midfield to complete the switch to a 4-5-1, leaving Blas Perez alone up top.
No changes for the Albiceleste, as Gerardo Martino sends out the same XI who defeated Chile in their opener. Lionel Messi is available off the bench this time, however, so we'll see if he makes his debut in the 2016 Copa tonight. In the meantime, Gonzalo Higuain continues to lead the line ahead of Sergio Aguero, flanked by Nicolas Gaitan and Angel di Maria.
ARGENTINA (4-3-3): Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Rojo; Augusto, Mascherano, Banega; Gaitan, Di Maria, Higuain.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
Panama are no strangers to the underdog title, relishing the fact they were relative unknowns outside of CONCACAF coming into the tournament. They announced themselves in a big way against Bolivia, and with both confidence and experience coursing through their side, coach Hernan Dario Gomez believes his side can pull the upset today.
They’ve given every indication to believe this could be their year, and with Lionel Messi set to return to the world’s top-ranked team tonight, you wouldn’t want to be the person betting against them.
Argentina got revenge on Chile in their opening match, after losing to them in the 2015 final, looking every bit the part as title contenders. The Albiceleste have settled for the role of bridesmaid in their last two major tournaments, losing the final in both, but they feel it’s their time to be the bride – figuratively speaking.
Hello and welcome to live coverage from Soldier Field in Chicago as the two Group D leaders lock horns with the winner taking a big step towards qualifying for the quarter-final!
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