Watch: Higuain brace; Messi ties record; Venezuela fails on Panenka

Lionel Messi and Argentina will continue their quest to win a first major senior international trophy in 23 years, after beating Venezuela 4-1 in the Copa America quarterfinals at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Messi started for the first time all tournament, and he wasted little time in making an impact against Argentina's South American foe.
The reigning FIFA World Player of the Year fed Gonzalo Higuain over the top with an inch-perfect pass from the right. Higuain connected while sliding, hitting a one-time shot off the bounce to open the scoring with his first goal of the tournament in the eighth minute:
#ARGvVEN: Goooool. Al 8', Higuaín anota para @Argentina. #CopaAmerica #UDCentenario https://t.co/dCa7VUYoXW
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) June 18, 2016
Higuain added his second in the 28th minute, though this one had a much easier degree of difficulty. A horrible backpass played Higuain through on goal, and he rounded goalkeeper Dani Hernandez before rolling a shot into the empty net:
#CopaAméricaEnTyC ¡GOL DE ARGENTINA! ¡Otra vez el Pipa! 2-0 ante Venezuela. Miralo EN VIVO: https://t.co/V8Dj7PYnai https://t.co/lxkavzEkln
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) June 18, 2016
Venezuela accelerated the pressure and had multiple chances to get on the board, only to be stifled by Sergio Romero. His best moment was this recovery off a deflected shot, somehow finding a way to tip the ball over the bar.
Another look at Sergio Romero's backpedaling save before halftime. 👏👏👏 #ARGvVEN #MyCopaColors https://t.co/sbEScnTbOg
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2016
The Argentina goalkeeper was whistled for a penalty at the end of the first half, though, after fouling Josep Martinez. No matter, he held his own on the spot kick. Luis Seijas attempted a Panenka (chip down the middle), and Romero read it the whole way, easily making the save and seizing the momentum back heading into halftime.
#CopaAméricaEnTyC ¿¡Qué quisiste hacer Seijas!? ¡Acá Ataja Romero! Miralo EN VIVO: https://t.co/V8Dj7PYnai https://t.co/RZetRZHyzn
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) June 18, 2016
Messi got his goal to make it 3-0 on the hour mark, tying Batistuta's record. He worked a combination with Nicolas Gaitan after a poor giveaway, and he nutmegged Hernandez for good measure, etching his name in Argentina lore.
#CopaAméricaEnTyC ¡GOL DE ARGENTINA! Messi convirtió el 3-0 ante Venezuela. Miralo EN VIVO: https://t.co/V8Dj7PYnai https://t.co/SY16BCWSrR
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) June 19, 2016
Venezuela got one back in the 71st minute through Salomon Rondon, as his header bounced off the post and in to make it 3-1:
#CopaAméricaEnTyC Así Rondón descontaba para el 3-1 https://t.co/8vFuW6DYoE
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) June 19, 2016
That lifeline was almost non-existent, though. Erik Lamela rolled a shot through Hernandez, who should've done better, to restore the three-goal edge moments after the restart:
#CopaAméricaEnTyC ¡GOL DE ARGENTINA! Lamela rápido pone el 4-1 ante Venezuela. EN VIVO: https://t.co/V8Dj7PYnai https://t.co/MzbhAz1X7j
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) June 19, 2016
Argentina will now face the United States in the semifinals Tuesday night in Houston.