Argentina still managed to defeat Chile and advance to the Copa America playoffs. Based on the minimum score, one might get the impression that the game was roughly equal. This is far from the truth.
Gone are the days when the Chilean team was a formidable force, fighting for the Copa América and winning it twice in a row. The team no longer has legends such as Gary Medel and Arturo Vidal, although both have not yet retired. But Claudio Bravo, 41, Mauricio Isla, 38, Alexis Sánchez, 35, and Eduardo Vargas, 34, are still in action. Another thing is that his best form is far behind him. That is also why the Chileans did not face the mediocre Peruvians and defeated them to zero in the first round of the Cup. And it was Sánchez who wasted the best opportunity, failing from a lethal position.
The four main veterans of the Chilean team came out again from the first minutes. Like CSKA forward Viktor Dávila, who came on as a substitute from Peru. The world champions themselves, after a resounding victory (2-0) over the Canadians, made a rotation: Marcos Acuña, Leandro Paredes and Ángel Di María remained on the bench (Nico Tagliafico, Enzo Fernández and Nico González appeared). Lautaro Martínez was also located there, although he was quite convincing. Julián Álvarez is a priority for the coaching staff for the second consecutive game.
Bravo and Messi before the match
Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images
The first half of the first half was reminiscent of the match between France and Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup, as Vasily Utkin showed it schematically in his hands: pressure-pressure-pressure not particularly dangerous and a small counterattack. The poor quality of the field, which many Copa América participants complain about, also had an influence. At times you could see sand coming out from under the players’ boots.
The heat started around minute 20. And one-sided. Nobody stopped Álvarez from hitting the ball from close range, it turned out clumsily. González surprised the Chileans and rushed towards the central striker’s place, but for some reason, instead of crossing, he weakly headed the ball. Messi hit the post with a low shot from distance. A little to the left and being naked: Bravo didn’t really react. Erik Pulgar almost put the ball in his own goal. And this is an incomplete list of points.
This is how Leo must have felt as President of Chile. He once easily beat three opponents in the midfield. Although this is Messi, why be surprised? At the same time, in the 24th minute, Gabi Suazo seriously violated the rules on him, and then the Argentine captain moved away from supersonic speed, even by his own standards. 13:0: These are the shooting statistics in the first half. This is what these teams of different kinds are like.
In the first game the execution was not very good either.
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In addition, the drawing of the match was preserved. Bravo had to run towards the goal with redoubled force. The legendary goalkeeper effectively stopped Molina’s point-blank shot and deflected González’s cannon towards the crossbar. At this rate he will keep his place in the national team until he is 50 years old. That’s right.
At times the Chileans moved the game slightly away from their goal and tried to create something, but using this was more or less the same as seeing a peephole in a transparent door. Until the 72nd minute, until Chile had its first shot. Helped by the stupidest delivery from Romero, who in the center of the field out of nowhere gave a pass to another. A counterattack forced Martínez to take a great shot from Echeverría.
Romero was not enough and after three minutes he clumsily deflected the ball after a cross from Isla to Echeverría himself. Martínez was also at his best here. Apparently, the Chileans were waiting for such gifts, patiently defending themselves. And they waited! The implementation disappointed us. Well, thanks to the goalkeeper: he could have relaxed a long time ago, but he stayed in good shape.
Emiliano Martínez (center)
Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Giovanni Lo Celso, Gonzalo Montiel, Acuña, Di María, Lautaro – also received practice. And not in vain, because in the 88th minute Argentina finally achieved its goal. And two of the non-starting players participated in the scoring episode. Messi crossed from the right corner, Lisandro Martínez headed the ball to Lo Celso, he shot from close range and hit Bravo, but it was no longer possible to prevent Lautaro from finishing.
Later, the Argentines also ruined the two-for-one solution. Furthermore, Di María was not greedy and shared it with Lautaro, but in some incomprehensible way he did not surpass Bravo. The goalkeeper made 8 great saves per game – that’s the real hero of the game.
Argentina scored six points and secured their place in the playoffs. Now, the Chileans need to beat Canada, otherwise they will have to book tickets back home in the near future. However, a draw with the Argentines would not have brought them anything in this regard, because the Canadians are two points ahead.
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