Argentina holds its place in the United States. The defending champion validated her ticket to the quarter-finals of the Copa America by beating Chile (1-0), Tuesday evening during the 2nd day of the group stage, in East Rutherford. A stone’s throw from New York, in a packed MetLife Stadium (82,000 seats) and under the deafening noise of Argentine supporters, the Albiceleste has waited a long time to realize its constant domination.
The liberating goal arrived in the 88th minute, on a corner from Lionel Messi pushed back into the area and volleyed by Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, who entered the game a little earlier. With six points in two matches, Argentina, title holder (2021) and world champion (2022) is assured of playing in the quarter-finals, before the 3rd day where it will face Peru in Miami.
The day after his 37th birthday, celebrated Monday by thousands of supporters in the famous New York Times Square, Leo Messi capsized the stadium with a long shot which hit the post (36th) as well as several dribbles and passes inspired in the first half. Upon returning from the locker room, Lionel Scaloni’s players attacked again. With a ground pass, Messi ideally shifted Nahuel Molina, who came to create the surplus on the right, but the full-back’s shot was repelled by veteran Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, 41 years old (51st).
Chile no longer has a choice
Then Nicolas Gonzalez fired a powerful shot on target, again deflected onto the cross ball by the last Chilean rampart (62nd). The Chileans were in turn dangerous in the last quarter of an hour of regulation time, but two strikes from Rodrigo Echeverria came up against Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
After their draw (0-0) in the first match against Peru, the Chileans have only one point and have not scored any goals in the competition. The winners of the 2015 and 2016 editions, each time on penalties in the final against Argentina, will have to win their third meeting against Canada to hope to qualify.
Canada wins, assistant referee suffers discomfort
Earlier, the Canadians beat Peru, reduced to 10 after a second-half expulsion, in a game played in hot weather Tuesday in Kansas City. With this first victory and a three-point score, the Canadians are in second place in Group A before playing their qualification for the quarters against Chile.
In a temperature of 38 degrees, the match had to be interrupted before the end of the first half due to the discomfort of an assistant referee who collapsed on the field and had to be treated. Led by their striker of Italian origin Gianluca Lapadula, the Peruvians were the most dangerous in the first period.
In the 2nd half, the match turned to the advantage of the Reds after the expulsion of the Peruvian Miguel Araujo. The Peruvians continued to press, but Canada opened the scoring thanks to Lille striker Jonathan David with a cross shot after a fatal counter-attack (74th). This is the first goal in Canadian history in the Copa America, the country competing in the competition for the first time.
