GONZALO HIGUAIN netted a stylish brace as Lionel Messi returned in style to inspire Argentina through to the Copa America semi-finals.
The Napoli forward netted twice in the first half before Luis Seijas missed a penalty for the Venezuelans.
And despite a Solomon Rondon consolation, first Messi and then Erik Lamela sealed an easy passage through for the number one seeds.
Argentina saw Messi return and Di Maria miss out through injury
Argentina bought Messi into the starting line up after he came off the bench to net a hat-trick against Panama, but Angel Di Maria picked up an injury in training and missed out.
Of the past 20 meetings between the sides, Argentina had won 19 whilst the Venezuelans have come out on top only once – a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win in 2011.
Messi was immediately into his stride and amid deafening noise in the Gillette Stadium curled an early warning shot inches past Dani Hernandez's left post.
The Venezuelans were intent on stopping the mini magician with physicality, as Arquimedes Figuera came crashing in and was unlucky to escape a card.
But in a flash, Messi turned provider as he looped a wonderful ball into the box which Higuain latched onto and struck firmly into the corner.
It was nothing more than Argentina deserved for an energetic start and it should've been two when Hernandez came tearing out of the area and spooned his clearance, only for Messi to sidefoot the rebound wide.
It was only a matter of time until they doubled their advantage, but it came in embarrassing fashion for the underdogs.
Higuain profited from poor defending as the Venezuelans dithered at the back, allowing the Napoli man to race clear on goal, round the keeper and calmly finish.
West Brom forward Rondon had a glorious chance to claw a goal back just before half time, but Sergio Romero was on hand to spread himself and block the shot.
And Argentina were so lucky just a few minutes later as Rondon again got the better of Funes Mori and hammered a header off the post.
Suddenly the Venezualan tails were up and it took a quite brilliant save from Romero to tip a deflected effort from Rolf Feltscher over the bar.
Something was brewing, and they got their reward as the United keeper went from hero to zero, felling Joseph Martinez as he galloped into the box.
What Venezuala needed was a cool head to take the spotkick - but inexplicably Seijas tried a Penenka penalty, which he chipped straight into the hands of the stationary Romero.
It was a ridiculous decision in a pivotal section of the game and coach Rafael Dudame was left fuming as the teams went in for the break.
Neither side made changes during the interval and the frantic pace of the game continued into the second half.
Augusto Fernandez came close with a glancing header as the men in blue looked to regain their stranglehold on the game and the clincher came from a likely source.
Gaitan pounced on more slack defending on the edge of the box and laid in that man Messi, who just prodded past Hernandez.
Rondon looked to have got Venezuela back in the game when he netted a trademark header with twenty minutes left - but barely a minute later Spurs' Erik Lamela fired home to ease any Argentine nerves.
It was a thoroughly professional and clinical performance from Messi and Co, who go through to face hosts USA in the semi-finals.
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