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| Edited By: Pranav Joshi |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 11:09 PM IST
Chile have beaten Argentina 4-1 on penalties, who were challenged all the way through by Chile, and then were horrendous in the shootout. Once again, a major title eludes Argentina at the last hurdle. Lionel Messi looks distraught. But it could be argued that Chile deserved to win tonight.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
Sanchez - He SCORES, and CHILE HAVE WON THE COPA AMERICA! Chile 4-1 Argentina!
Banega - It's SAVED, and Chile have one hand on the title! Hits straight at Bravo, and without speed. Chile 3-1 Argentina
Aranguiz - Drills it low into the corner. Chile get closer. Chile 3-1 Argentina
Higuain - He MISSES! Shoots it miles over the goal and Chile are in front now. Chile 2-1 Argentina
Vidal - He JUST scores. Romero got hands to it but the ball still found the back of the net. Chile 2-1 Argentina
Lionel Messi - He scores for Argentina. Chile 1-1 Argentina
Fernandez - scores for Chile, right into the roof of the net. Chile 1-0 Argentina
Chile to go first.
END OF EXTRA TIME: Both Argentina and Chile had their chances once again, and both failed to score yet again. This final will be decided on penalties.
120' Banega takes a free kick, but it is twice blocked by the Chilean wall before Lavezzi wildly kicks it out behind off a deflection.
------------- We lost the feed for a while in the middle, apologies ---------------------
108' Mascherano takes a free kick after a foul on Otamendi.
106' Chile start the second half of extra time in Santiago. Mascherano seemed to go down but now is fine to continue. But now he is hobbling.
105' Incredible! Claudio Bravo's throw is in Mascherano's path, but he fails to intercept it, and Alexis Sanchez has a clear field! He races on! Zabaleta comes rushing in across the left and centre to close him down, and as Sanchez shoots, he narrows down the angle. Sanchez's final ball crosses over goal! Horrendous mistake from Mascherano.
104' The resulting Messi free kick is headed out by Chile for another corner, which is taken by Bravo.
103' Lavezzi has been taken down twice now. The first time he seemed to have pulled a hamstring. Now Isla makes a strange challlenge from the back.
100' An Aranguiz hand ball in the middle has been ignored by the referee. Aranguiz should have a red card there. He's already had a yellow.
99' A massive, loaded Argentine defence manages to somehow first keep out Vidal and then Diaz, who has to make an attempt at goal with about 9 men around him. He shoots way over goal.
97' A fight for possession in the middle leads to a throw for Argentina as the ball goes out of play.
95' Vargas goes off and Angelo Henriques comes on.
93' Yellow card for Banega who donkey-kicked Isla after going down following Isla's challenge.
92' Nobody to intercept a Bouseujour pass into the Argentine penalty area on the left.
91' Argentina kick off in extra time.
FULL-TIME: Argentina 0-0 Chile at full time. 30 minutes of extra time will be played. Both sides had clear chances in the second half, including Lavezzi who nearly had an open goal in the last minute of added time. But they have failed to score. A 0-0 scoreline at 90 minutes in a game which has been very enjoyable to watch.
90 + 2' Oh dear. Messi made a fantastic pass to Lavezzi on the left, and Lavezzi had a clear field in front. Instead, he chose to pass it to Higuain on the right. Higuain was a little wide, and his finish hit the side netting. Lavezzi should have got for goal himself there.
90 + 1' Two minutes of added time has been provided.
89' The free kick however goes straight into the hands of keeper Claudio Bravo. Martino was screaming for a penalty, because a Chile defender was clutching Rojo around the waist.
88' Argentina get a free kick for a Hernandez challenge on Messi.
86' Aranguiz gets a yellow card for a challenge on Otamendi.
85' Offside! Messi with a through ball over the top, finds Lavezzi rushing through at the edge of the penalty area. Lavezzi scores just as the offside whistle and flag come out.
84' Marcus Rojo, who has already had a yellow card, makes a challenge on Isla. But he seems to have gone for the ball before he dives into Isla. No reward for Chile.
Saturday evening in and feels like a Sunday. Streets empty. #CopaAmerica #VamosArgentina by 7monthsoftravel #Buenos… pic.twitter.com/o2Qzjovh2o
— B891_ (@B891_) July 4, 2015
83' The ball lands right on the right foot of Sanchez in the middle of the penalty area. He has a clear space on his left, but his curling kick shoots the ball wide of goal! Oh what a chance missed.
81' Javier Pastore is replaced by Ever Banega. Surprising decision from Gerardo Martino.
80' Messi finds space to pass the ball to Pastore in the Chilean penalty area, but then is dispossessed as he chooses to go left instead of right where Higuain was waiting.
79' Ever Banega now coming on for Argentina.
76' Vidal is back on the pitch and immediately creates danger in the centre forward position. Argentina's backline really gives him a hard time as two defenders fall on him. No foul. There should have been a penalty there, but no one appealed!
74' Aguero has been substituted with Higuain. Higuain has scored 4 of Argentina's last 6 goals against Chile.
amazing the amount of skill on display being overcome by the amount of determination on display #CopaAmerica
— Dan Ahern (@topical_storm) July 4, 2015
73' Vargas finds a lot of space in the middle of the Argentine penalty area, but Demichelis is right there to ensure his final ball is weak and Romero collects it easily.
71' Demichelis nastily fouls Vidal, who is now being taken away on the ride.
69' Vidal dispossesses Messi on the midline, but then can't keep the ball in play, so Argentina get a throw.
66' Sanchez gets the better of Otamendi on the right flank, and then passes to Vidal inside the Argentine penalty area. There is no clear space for Vidal forward, and Zabaleta comes in to clear the imminent danger.
65' He goes for goal (and glory) himself, and hits Vidal in the defensive wall. The ball goes out for a corner, which is again missed.
65' Argentina free kick following a challenge on Messi, who will take it.
61' The resulting corner has to be retaken as Isla loses a boot. It is then cleared. Otamendi goes down in the middle after a challenge and another free kick for Argentina, which is wasted.
60' Another Argentina corner as Isla kicks away a Rojo shot near the left post. Lavezzi shoots long, to the far post, and the ball goes out for another corner.
I wonder how many European teams will be bidding for #Valdivia after #CopaAmerica
— The Real Eon Lemon (@Eonlemon) July 4, 2015
58' An Argentina corner is headed away from goal on the far post by defender Otamendi. He has really had a poor game.
56' Mascherano makes a terrible attempt, diving in the middle of the penalty area. The referee declares it was a hand ball, and gives him a yellow card. The resulting free kick is poor and Zabaleta easily clears.
55' Marcus Rojo gets a yellow card for a challenge on Isla.
52' Aranguiz fires it in to Valdivia on the near post, but the angle was such that Valdivia's resulting header was never going to find goal.
51' A Chilean corner is now headed away by Biglia. It's time for a second corner now.
50' Medel from the centre passes Valdivia on the right, but Mascherano intercepts the intended pass to Vidal.
Be a host, play like a bunch of thugs, add a bit of refs' help and BOOM, you're in final of Copa America.
— Stijepo (@DaniOnTheWing) July 4, 2015
48' Argentina keep out yet another Chile attack in the penalty area by closing down, but Chile are not allowing Argentina much of the possession.
47' Demichelis has gone for a wild challenge on Vargas, and now Chile get a corner.
46' Sanchez chases down Otamendi who was lazy in collecting the misfired through ball. He then crosses to Vidal on the left, who puts in a header that Romero saves over his head!
46' Peru kick off the second half.
HALF-TIME: Chile started off dominating the game with possession and a couple of close attempts. Argentina grew in confidence and then had a few chances of their own. Chile's defending was superb, keeping out at least one if not two Argentine goals. The match is even at half-time, literally and otherwise. 0-0.
45' Pastore fights to keep possession in the Chilean penalty area, and then passes back to Lavezzi. Lavezzi had some space in the middle, but he shot straight at Claudio Bravo who kept it out well.
44' Valdivia is taken down again, this time by Otamendi. Chile waste the free kick and then Messi is heavily taken down, but no foul.
43' Diaz gets a yellow card for pulling Messi's jersey during a battle for possession.
The official has been pretty lenient with his calls. #CopaAmerica
— The AOSN (@TheAOSNOfficial) July 4, 2015
42' Valdivia is fouled again, this time by Biglia. He demands a yellow card but Chile get a free kick, which Sanchez fails to take advantage of.
41' Messi is dispossessed again in the middle and then a fight for possession ensues between him and Valdivia. Valdivia goes down eventually and a foul is conceded. However, Diaz is found offside following the corner.
38' Another Argentine corner, Biglia to take it. However, Chile manage to clear the danger.
37' The Argentine corner is poorly taken. The ball finds Mascherano on the far side, he manages to help it to Aguero, who is however blocked by the defence.
36' Messi's shot is too long for the Argentine forwards and the Medel clears. A corner to Argentina.
35' Diaz pulls Lavezzi down leading to an Argentine free kick.
34' The Argentine defence desperately keeps out a Sanchez-Valdivia attack in the middle. Then, Medel kicks Messi in the stomach and gets a yellow card.
31' Valdivia puts in a poor cross following a Chile throw. The cross is intercepted by Otamendi, who then shoots it straight into the Chilean half.
Di Maria will be devastated at going off. Missed the World Cup final with an injury and taken off in the Copa America final with an injury.
— MUFC Peoples Person (@PeoplesPerson_) July 4, 2015
29' Otamendi clears a Chilean foray into the Argentine penalty area before de Silva takes down Aguero on the midline. Di Maria goes off and Lavezzi comes in. Di Maria seems to have pulled a hamstring. Forced substitution.
25' A Chile free kick is thwarted by a punch from Romero, but Di Maria can't capitalise on the space in the middle from the resulting play.
24' De Silva of Chile gets a yellow card.
23' Vargas now finds space down the right and rushes out. Otamendi cannot outpace him. Vargas gets into the Argentine penalty area and fires in a curling kick, but the ball flies way over goal.
22' Another brilliant piece of defending from Chile denies Messi a pass to Aguero on the edge of the penalty area.
20' Messi takes the free kick. Brilliant ball in, Aguero's header is nearly perfect, but Claudio Bravo puts in a tremendous effort to keep out the goal!
Aguero's work rate is different class....#CopaAmerica
— JFT96 (@Mr_ITellYah) July 4, 2015
19' Chile concede a free kick after a challenge on Zabaleta.
16' Chile close down another Argentina attack in the middle by merely getting in as many on the defence as possible. Neither di Maria nor Messi can find enough space for a through ball to Aguero.
15' Chile do really well to keep Sergio Aguero, who had received a really good through ball from Messi, away from scoring. Superb defending.
11' What a chance! Demichelis has again ensured Argentina don't concede. Vidal found miles of space on the right, and his final ball was parried away by the keeper. Demichelis kicks it away to stave off the immediate danger.
9' Argentina get a throw. But they get dispossessed, and Vargas then takes a clean shot from the middle. It flies just to the left of the Argentine goal.
8' Isla finds a lot of space in the Argentine penalty area, and tries to pass to Valdivia in the middle, but is eventually kept out by an Argentine defender.
6' Messi finds a through ball from Pastore and passes to Di Maria, who is taken down by the keeper as he nears goal.
5' Biglia passes to Messi, who then unfurls a perfect cross down the left to Di Maria. Di Maria's final ball however, goes cleanly over goal.
Was that an attempt for the goal or was he trying to cross it ! #CopaAmerica2015
— Taha Muhammad (@tahamuhammad95) July 4, 2015
4' Argentina get a corner after a failed Chilean attack on the left flank. However, Chile are the ones making the early attacks into the Argentine third.
3' A great return pass from Isla to Vargas eventually lands in the hands of Sergio Romero quite easily.
1' A poor through ball into the Chilean third is safely negotiated by a defender. Aguero was at his heels.
KICK OFF: Argentina kick off in Santiago.
Here are the lineups:
The #CHI and #ARG teams for the #Chile 2015 final are in! Follow the build-up here! http://t.co/OC6JfKpats pic.twitter.com/5EiiTWkVGM
— Copa América 2015 (@ca2015_en) July 4, 2015
The national anthems are underway. First is the Argentine anthem. The Chile anthem is sung by everyone including the Chile fans in the crowd, who outnumber the Argentina fans by a huge margin.
Welcome to the LIVE coverage of the 2015 Copa America Final, between Chile and Argentina. The match begins at 1:30 am IST, at Santiago.
Chile defeated Peru 2-1 in the semifinals, while Argentina thrashed Paraguay 6-1 to romp into the final.
This game is doubly important for both teams. It is not just the Copa America final, but a chance for both teams to break jinxes. Chile have never won the Copa America in its 99-year-old history, and Argentina last won the title 22 years ago. For Chile, playing at home, there could be no better opportunity to win this tournament. For Argentina, a team so revered over decades, it is a matter of embarrassment that they haven't won a major title since 1993. Both teams will be looking to rewrite history.
Lionel Messi, arguably the world's best footballer, will also want to achieve the personal goal of winning a major trophy for Argentina. For all his exploits at Barcelona, the Argentine forward has been found somewhat wanting while playing for country.
On a related note, Chile captain and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has said their team won't man-mark Messi.
Argentina are favourites despite Chile playing at home. Not only do they have the better team in general, but their forwards have finally found form with a 6-1 thrashing of Paraguay in Concepcion. Indeed, Argentina's attack comprising Messi, Aguero, Di Maria, Higuain, Lavezzi and Tevez is the best in the world - it's just that they don't always play to potential. Paraguay have been wise to warn Chile against giving too much space to the Albiceleste attack.
It is also a fact that Argentina have historically dominated Chile. Here is a factbox for the two teams.
Argentina's weakness though lies firmly in their defence. The Albiceleste have displayed a historic tendency to be unable to safely defend their backline. Even in the league stages of this tournament, Paraguay came back from a 0-2 deficit to end the game at 2-2.
Argentina will no doubt focus on playing high up and maximising their core strength - their attacking force - in order to compensate for their defensive frailties.
During the press conference before the match, both Argentine and Chilean players spoke to the media. Chilean defender Gary Medel said Chile have to be at their absolute best to beat Argentina. Sergio Aguero on the other hand, heaped praise on Medel and some other Chilean players.
Meanwhile, Argentine coach Gerardo Martino feels the present Argentina side is the best there has ever been.
