Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Copa America quarter-final tie between Venezuela and Argentina at the iconic Maracana in Rio.

La Albiceleste struggled in the group stage but a 2-0 win over Qatar in their final round-robin fixture saw them progress through.

Venezuela finished second to Brazil in Group A, meanwhile, and they have yet to taste defeat in this year's competition.

Argentina have beaten their opponents all five times they have faced them in Copa America. Can they maintain that run to stay on course for yet another final appearance? We will soon find out!

VENEZUELA TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Farinez; Hernandez, Chancellor, Mago, Rosales; Murillo, Herrera, Moreno, Rincon, Machis; Rondon

SUBS: Aristeguieta, Soteldo, Graterol, Martinez, Seijas, Feltscher, Anor, Osorio, Romo, Savarino

ARGENTINA TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Armani; Foyth, Pezzella, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Acuna; Messi, Aguero, Martinez

SUBS: Suarez, Rodriguez, Lo Celso, Casco, Saravia, Marchesin, Musso, Funes Mori, Dybala, Pereyra, Di Maria, Pizarro

KICKOFF:  Scaloni makes a couple of changes from the win against Qatar, with Pezzella returning to the heart of defence - forcing Foyth to right-back - and Acuna replaces Lo Celso in midfield. Herrera and Murillo are in for Venezuela in their two changes.

© Reuters

SAVE!  Argentina, backed by plenty of supporters inside the Maracana, have made a fast start to the quarter-final. The angle is against Aguero but he still gets a shot away and Farinez makes a save down low to concede a corner.

A couple of Argentina shots are blocked as Paraguay see out the pressure - for now. La Albiceleste have been pretty poor all tournament - even in their win against Qatar they stuttered - but they look in the mood this evening. What a huge game this is for Scaloni.

Argentina win another corner on the right. They change kick taker, with Paredes this time swinging it in, and Otamendi tries to attack it. Herrera got to the ball first, though, at the expense of another corner.

Paredes is given another opportunity to swing in the corner. It is another decent delivery but Martinez fails to bring it under control once it is flicked on and Farinez is able to gather. That has to go down as half a chance for Argentina.

GOAL!  VENEZUELA 0-1 ARGENTINA (LAUTARO MARTINEZ)

Argentina have an early lead, just like they did against Qatar in their last group game. And like in that last group game, it is Martinez who has scored the opener thanks to a sublime flick. Aguero shot goalwards and Martinez flicked it past Farinez.

© Reuters

Argentina turned over possession moments after Venezuela restarted play and the space opened up for Messi, but his shot from inside the box was blocked. There was then a lengthy VAR check for a possible infringement, but it came to nothing.

Venezuela have got forward for pretty much the first time today, with Rondon finally getting a touch of the ball, but the attack fizzles out and the offside flag goes up. Argentina are looking very comfortable at the moment.

YELLOW CARD!  Herrera is booked for a foul on Paredes and is shown a yellow card by the referee. Play resumes and, about 20 seconds later, Martinez is also cautioned for a pretty needless clip on Rosales out wide.

Venezuela have started to grow into the game and they win themselves a first corner, which Moreno sends pretty deep. Argentina fail to properly deal with the danger and Moreno's shot is blocked. This is a lot better from Dudamel's men.

Messi carries the ball forward but loses control of it in the box. The Barcelona superstar stops in his tracks and claims that the ball popped up and hit a Venezuela player on the arm. It goes to a VAR check and it is decided that it was not worthy of a penalty.

This has been an encouraging spell from Venezuela. It is the first time they have trailed in this year's competition but they have showed good character since Martinez found a way through. Foyth recovers well to concede a corner, which comes to nothing.

Argentina are struggling to keep hold of the ball in the opposition half. There is another stoppage in play following a foul from Chancellor. It has become a very stop-start match at the Maracana.

Foyth against Machis is shaping up to be a great battle. For the second time in about five minutes the pair are engaged in another foot race, which Foyth gets the better off by winning the ball with a sliding challenge in the box, confirmed after a VAR check.

This match is becoming incredibly frustrating to watch - play is constantly being stopped because of niggling fouls or unnecessary VAR checks. Argentina looked very good before scoring; since then they have massively gone off the boil.

The ball is launched forward and Rondon does very well to head it down into the path of Herrera, who waits too long to get the shot away. Argentina eventually get players back and the chance goes begging. That was a good opportunity!

Armani does well to take control of the box by coming off his line and collecting a left-sided cross. Venezuela, following a slow start, have looked a lot better than Argentina over the last 15 minutes or so.

Murillo takes the feet of De Paul to concede a free kick. Just as Venezuela gather some momentum they give Argentina the perfect opportunity to slow play down. We have played 34 minutes in Rio and it is La Albiceleste who hold a narrow lead.

Acuna tries to get out of the way of Chancellor's challenge but he still catches his opponent on the shin - yet another break in play! Once Chancellor is back to his feet the ball is worked forward and Armani gathers with both hands.

De Paul does well to get a cross into the box from the right, catching a few players by surprise, but the move comes to little. Martinez is fouled outside the box and Argentina have a set-piece, which Venezuela have struggled to defend today.

Messi sends the free kick into a good area and Pezzella attacks it, but he never looks convinced and the header sails over the crossbar. Up the other end, Chancellor heads over the crossbar from a good position. There have been plenty of nearly moments since Martinez's goal.

YELLOW CARD!  An incredibly disjointed first half in Rio is coming towards a close. Messi sends the ball in from wide and Pezzella should be doing better. Acuna is then cautioned for wiping out Murillo, who was looking to break clear.

Scaloni will clearly be the happier of the two managers, given that his side are a goal to the good, but there are positive for Dudamel to take from this first half, also. The ball is played around the back for Aguero but he is dispossessed.

YELLOW CARD!  Rondon is the fifth player to be booked in the first half for kicking out at Paredes. Messi's set-piece delivery is disappointing. Four minutes have been added on at the end of the half due to the number of stoppages - many of them unnecessary.

A quick exchange of passes down the left catches Venezuela out. Acuna sends in a delightful cross but Martinez cannot quite get on the end of it when sliding in. Argentina are finally starting to click into gear, with just seconds of the first half to go.

HALF TIME:  VENEZUELA 0-1 ARGENTINA

Argentina take a one-goal lead into half time thanks to Martinez's strike 10 minutes in. La Albiceleste were good value for their goal when it arrived after making a fast start, but since then they have struggled to get going and an improvement is needed in the second half.

As he did against Qatar in Argentina's last group outing, Lautaro Martinez scored an early goal to reward his side for a fast start.

The Inter Milan striker reacted quickly to flick Sergio Aguero's shot past Wuilker Farinez, but Lionel Scaloni's side struggled to push on in the remainder of a flat first half.

Messi failed to make the most of a couple of shooting opportunities from range and German Pezzella, back in the side after missing out against Qatar, headed a presentable opportunity over the crossbar.

Venezuela grew into the first half but struggled to create anything of note, with Yangel Herrera squandering a rare sight of goal when failing to get a shot away from 15 yards.

BENCH WATCH!

VENEZUELA SUBS: Aristeguieta, Soteldo, Graterol, Martinez, Seijas, Feltscher, Anor, Osorio, Romo, Savarino

ARGENTINA SUBS: Suarez, Rodriguez, Lo Celso, Casco, Saravia, Marchesin, Musso, Funes Mori, Dybala, Pereyra, Di Maria, Pizarro

© Reuters

KICKOFF:  Venezuela get us back underway at the Maracana. Argentina are 45 minutes away from booking a place in the semi-finals, but they will need to step things up if they are to get themselves over the line.

Argentina's best moments this evening have come from free kicks. Messi drills the ball in from a wide position and Farinez has to slap it clear. The goalkeeper is fouled in the process and wins his side a free kick of their own.

OFF THE POST!  Paredes plays in Martinez, who clips the frame of the goal with his shot - he should have done better. Argentina could do with a second goal to kill off Venezuela - until they get it this game is far from over.

Messi does very well to turn over possession for his side 10 yards into the Venezuela half from the next attack. The ball is worked to Martinez but he is unable to do anything with it on the edge of the box.

Murillo wants to charge at the Argentina defence but he is suffocated by a few players. Venezuela are stretching play but when the ball comes into the middle more often than not Armani is first to it.

Mago steps across Messi to break up the attack. Scaloni wants to see a yellow card but the referee lets the Venezuela defender get away with it, awarding just a free kick. This has been an incredibly disjointed match.

VENEZUELA SUB! Mago is replaced by Soteldo with just under an hour played - a midfielder for a defender. Dudamel is happy to take risks as time is not on his team's side. Scaloni still has three subs available.

Argentina are far too defensive at the moment. Venezuela are being given the chance to knock the ball around and they appear to be growing in confidence. That said, with an hour now played, they have still yet to create a single chance.

It is surely just a matter of time before this Venezuela pressure tells. Machis sends a teasing cross in from the right that is not quite in heading distance for Rondon. Once again, play is stopped because of an injury.

Pezzella is happy to send the ball behind for a corner kick as Venezuela continue to turn the screw. Scaloni is surely considering a change or two at this point because his side are holding on. Murillo tries to take on Foyth but the defender blocks the cross.

Di Maria is on for goalscorer Martinez in Argentina's first change. There is yet another VAR stoppage following an incident in the Argentina box. This has not been a good advert for the video technology.

Foyth has defended superbly down the right-hand flank this evening. He has had to be alert pretty much all game because Venezuela have edged things since Argentina took the lead 10 minutes in - that seems like an age ago.

ARGENTINA SUB! Argentina may be struggling to get the ball out of their own final third, but Venezuela have ultimately created nothing. Another 20 minutes of this and La Albiceleste will be in the semi-finals of the Copa America. Acuna is replaced by Lo Celso.

SAVE!  Venezuela finally manage to open up Argentina and they should probably be level. The ball is worked into the path of Hernandez, whose half-volley is at a good height for Armani to push aside. Argentina need to change tactics.

There is no doubt that Venezuela have the upper hand. Argentina have sat back throughout the second half and their opponents are now starting to create opportunities. All they need to do is take one of them and we will go to penalties.

GOAL!  VENEZUELA 0-2 ARGENTINA (GIOVANI LO CELSO)

It's an absolute horror moment for Farinez as he gifts Argentina a second goal that surely kills off the contest. Aguero's shot from the edge of the 18-yard box was tame, but Farinez failed to keep hold of it and Lo Celso had a tap-in from five yards.

© Reuters

Some may see this as a cruel result for Venezuela, given they had been on top between 1-0 and 2-0, but they created just one chance during that spell. Argentina made the most of their opportunity and they now have a semi-final to look forward to.

Venezuela need to start having shots at goal, it's as simple as that. A free kick is won 30 yards out and Rondon looks ready to take it on. It looks as though Scaloni may make another change in the next few minutes.

SHOT!  Rondon does indeed take on the free kick, but it drops wide of the post. Replays show it took a deflection off Pezzella, though - that was a good spot from the officials, as a corner kick has been awarded.

The corner is flicked on and Armani appeared to slap it to safety. Venezuela are back to where they were at 1-0, building pressure but flattering to deceive. Argentina are about 10 minutes away from a fifth semi-final in six attempts.

Argentina are knocking the ball towards the corner, and you cannot really blame them. Venezuela have not offered enough this evening in what has been a pretty disappointing quarter-final tie. Seijas is on for Rosales.

This will be Argentina's sixth win in a row against Venezuela at the Copa America if they hold on. Soteldo, not on the field that long ,refuses to give up when the ball drops in the box and he wins a corner - he wanted more.

Scaloni looks a little nervy down on the touchline, but his side have done enough to get over the line. Venezuela appear to have given up and Argentina now have five minutes of added time to see through. A semi-final clash with hosts Brazil awaits!

Armani is first to the ball when it is launched into the box. Messi thinks about driving forward with the ball but he instead lays it off to a teammate in order to eat up more time. There are three more minutes to go here.

Soteldo is cautioned in the final seconds of the match, seemingly for dispute. That is the sixth caution of the evening, five of those coming in the first half.

FULL TIME:  VENEZUELA 0-2 ARGENTINA

Argentina are through to the semi-finals of the Copa America for the fifth time in six attempts thanks to a 2-0 win over Venezuela in Rio.

Martinez opened the scoring 10 minutes in with an improvised flick and substitute Lo Celso killed off the match 16 minutes from time.

La Albiceleste will now take on tournament hosts Brazil in a mouth-watering clash in Belo Horizonte five days from now. What a game that should be!

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the Maracana.

An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us again in a couple of hours' time for updates from the quarter-final between Colombia and Chile. See you then!