(East Rutherford) Argentina, defending champion, validated its ticket to the quarter-finals of the Copa America by beating Chile (1-0), Tuesday evening during the 2e day of the group stage, in East Rutherford (United States).
A stone’s throw from New York, in a packed MetLife Stadium (82,000 seats) and under the deafening noise of the Argentinian supporters, the Albiceleste has waited a long time to concretize its constant domination.
The liberating goal arrived in the 88the minute, on a corner from Lionel Messi pushed back in the area and taken on the volley by Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, who came on a little earlier.
With six points in two matches, Argentina, title holder (2021) and world champion (2022) is guaranteed to compete in the quarter-finals, before the 3e day when she 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-range strike that hit the post (36e) as well as several inspired dribbles and passes in the first half.
Upon returning from the locker room, Lionel Scaloni’s players attacked again. With a pass on the ground, Messi ideally shifted Nahuel Molina, who had come to create the surplus on the right, but the strike from the full-back was repelled by the veteran goalkeeper of Chile Claudio Bravo, 41 years old (51e).
Then Nicolas Gonzalez unleashed a powerful shot on target, again deflected onto the crossbar by the last Chilean defender (62e).
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.