Argentina beat Qatar 2-0 to qualify for Copa America last eight

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group B - Qatar v Argentina - Arena Do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 23, 2019 Argentina's Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Henry Romero

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (Reuters) - An early goal from Lautaro Martinez and a late second from Sergio Aguero gave Argentina a 2-0 win over Qatar on Sunday, a deserved victory that takes them into the Copa America quarter-finals to face Venezuela.

Argentina took the lead after three minutes when an atrocious pass out of defence went straight to Martinez, who made no mistake from 15 meters out.

The first half was an even affair with Martinez and Aguero missing good chances for Argentina and Bassam Alrawi clipping the post from a free kick for the Asian champions.

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group B - Qatar v Argentina - Arena Do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 23, 2019 Argentina's Lionel Messi and team mates applaud fans after the match REUTERS/Diego Vara

But even with Lionel Messi looking more spritely than in Argentina's first two games, it took them until the second half before they were able to seal the points.

With eight minutes remaining Aguero ran on to a through ball and angled a fine drive past the Qatari keeper.

"When we scored the first goal we just needed to keep our calm until the end and we were qualified," Martinez said. "We were playing a good team, we couldn't make a mess of it."

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group B - Qatar v Argentina - Arena Do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 23, 2019 Argentina fans inside the stadium during the match REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Argentina's win, their first after a loss to Colombia and a draw with Paraguay, leaves them in second place in Group B on four points behind group winners Colombia, who beat Paraguay 1-0.

They will now play Venezuela in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, while the other quarter-final ties will only be decided after Monday's final Group C matches.

"Now we need to stay focused and win the next game and keep progressing," Martinez said.

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group B - Qatar v Argentina - Arena Do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 23, 2019 Argentina's Sergio Aguero scores their second goal REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

The top two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage along with the two best third-placed sides.

Brazil and Venezuela qualified from Group A on Saturday and third place Peru will join them.

Group C will be decided on Monday when Chile play Uruguay and Ecuador take on Japan.

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group B - Qatar v Argentina - Arena Do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 23, 2019 Argentina's Sergio Aguero in action with Qatar's Bassam Alrawi REUTERS/Henry Romero

(Reporting by Andrew Downie; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group B - Qatar v Argentina - Arena Do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 23, 2019 Argentina's Paulo Dybala in action REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group B - Qatar v Argentina - Arena Do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 23, 2019 Qatar's Abdullah Alahrak and Hasan Alhaydos in action with Argentina's Paulo Dybala REUTERS/Diego Vara

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group B - Qatar v Argentina - Arena Do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 23, 2019 Qatar players look dejected after the match REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group B - Qatar v Argentina - Arena Do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 23, 2019 Argentina's Lionel Messi applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Diego Vara