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Argentina top Chile in rematch of last year's Copa América final
Argentina top Chile in rematch of last year's Copa América final
(about 2 hours later)
Ángel Di María scored in the 51st minute off a pass from Ever Banega, then later assisted on Banega’s goal, and top-ranked Argentina looked just fine without injured captain Lionel Messi in beating Chile 2-1 in their Copa América opener Monday night. José Pedro Fuenzalida scored in the third minute of stoppage time as Chile avoided a shutout.
Argentina managed just fine without injured captain Lionel Messi, beating Chile 2-1 in their Copa América opener on Monday night. Ángel Di María scored his side’s first goal before dedicating the strike to his late grandmother, who passed away just hours before kick-off. Di María slotted home in the 51st minute after a fine through ball from Ever Banega, and then later turned provider himself, as Banega drilled low past Claudio Bravo to score his first ever goal in the competition. José Pedro Fuenzalida pulled a consolation strike back for Chile in the third minute of stoppage time.
There were five yellow cards issued in a testy rematch of last year’s final won by La Roja on penalty kicks. Cards were given to Di María and Gary Medel in the 65th minute after they tussled near the left touchline.
Related: Argentina v Chile: Copa América – as it happened.
Related: Argentina v Chile: Copa América – as it happened.
Di Maria assisted on Banega’s deflected goal in the 59th minute as Messi cheered from the bench. Chile’s Eugenio Mena was taken off on a stretcher in the 53rd minute after pulling up and appearing to grab his right hamstring, with no contact made. After his goal, Di Maria held up a shirt reading “Grandma, I’ll miss you very much,” after she died earlier Monday.
After his goal, Di María held up a T-shirt reading “Grandma, I’ll miss you very much,” after she died earlier on Monday. Argentina remain in search of their first major title since the 1993 Copa, after losing to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.
Playing at home last year, Chile beat Argentina and Messi 4-1 on penalty kicks for La Roja’s first Copa championship. Argentina’s senior team has not won a major title since the 1993 Copa, losing to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. Argentina beat Chile 2-1 in World Cup qualifying in Santiago on 24 March.
A repeat of last year’s final, which Chile won on penalties, it was a heated affair with five yellow cards. Both teams had good chances in a fast-paced first half. Nicolás Gaitán, starting in place of Messi, forced a save from Bravo inside two minutes. Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo later went close with a header after Gonzalo Higuaín struck his effort narrowly wide. Higuaín’s performance is thought to have been of interest to the watching Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp, who was in attendance at the capacity Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Monday’s match in the San Francisco 49ers’ $1.3bn stadium outdrew the Friday opener in which Colombia beat the United States 2-0. A crowd of 67,439 was announced.
Rojo’s Manchester United team-mate, Sergio Romero, made a great diving stop to prevent Alexis Sánchez finding the net after clever build-up play by Arturo Vidal, prompting Messi to applaud from the sidelines. Messi’s absence was unsurprising after the Barcelona star trained alone on Sunday following a recent back injury, although the forward was named among the substitutes.
Both teams had good chances in a fast-paced first half featuring two yellow cards against Chile. Nicolás Gaitán had a header from eight yards in the second minute that Chile goalkeeper Johnny Herrera punched over the crossbar.
In the 18th minute, Gaitán – starting in place of Messi – went down hard and his right knee buckled after a tackle from behind by Arturo Vidal that earned him a yellow card.
Gonzalo Higuaín’s shot from the left side in the box went just left off the post in the 23rd minute, then Argentina had another chance thwarted on Marcos Rojo’s header off a corner kick.
La Albiceleste goalkeeper Mariano Andujar made a great diving stop in the 30th minute, using his right hand to swat away a shot by Alexis Sánchez after a pair of pretty passes from Marcelo Diaz and Vidal, prompting Messi to clap on the bench.
Related: Mexico beat Uruguay after Copa América plays Chile anthem by mistake
Related: Mexico beat Uruguay after Copa América plays Chile anthem by mistake
The news about Messi not starting was hardly a surprise given the 28-year-old Barcelona star’s recent back injury. The midfielder practiced on the side during Sunday’s training and not with the full team.
Messi testified last Thursday in his tax fraud trial in Spain and joined the national team the next day. He didn’t get to catch up with Golden State Warriors superstar MVP Stephen Curry, who instead offered his well wishes after a Game 2 NBA Finals win against Cleveland. “He’s got business to take care of, so good luck to him,” Curry said. “I know he’s going to be ready.”
Chile defender Gonzalo Jara played in his first Copa match since sticking his finger into the backside of Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani in the 2015 Copa quarter-finals that earned Jara a three-game suspension.
US Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati was in attendance at sold-out Levi’s Stadium before travelling to Chicago for the Americans’ second Group A stage match Tuesday against Costa Rica.
