Argentina 5-0 Panama: Lionel Messi nets hat-trick on return

Lionel Messi came off the bench to hit a hat-trick as Argentina qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa America with a 5-0 win over 10-man Panama.

Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero were also on target for Gerardo Martino's team as they advanced with a game to spare.

Blas Perez was booked in the sixth minute for a late challenge on Javier Mascherano 40 yards from goal and Argentina went ahead from the resulting free-kick.

Angel Di Maria swung the free-kick over from the left and Otamendi climbed above a static Panama defence to plant a firm header past Jaime Penedo into the net.

Alberto Quintero then tested Romero from distance but it was a comfortable stop for the Argentina keeper.

Panama were reduced to 10 men in the 31st minute when Anibal Godoy, who was one of five players booked in the first 20 minutes of the game, was given a second yellow card for raising his arm off the ball at Nicolas Gaitan.

Penedo had to be sharp to block a sliced clearance from his own defender Felipe Baloy and moments later Ever Banega forced another save out of him.

Messi made his return from injury in the 61st minute and it took him just seven minutes to get on the scoresheet.

Luis Henriquez's attempted clearance hit Higuain and dropped into the path of Messi 15 yards out and he kept his cool to place the ball past Penedo.

He made it three 12 minutes from time with a fine free-kick, curling the ball over the wall and away from a diving Penedo into the net.

Aguero had a goal ruled out for offside before Messi scored the 53rd international goal of his career, holding off Baloy and cutting inside to curl a shot beyond Penedo to complete his hat-trick.

But Aguero did get his goal a minute from time when a long pass from Messi found Marcos Rojo and he headed the ball back across goal for the Manchester City striker to turn home from six yards out.

You can watch the Copa America live on Premier Sports.