Santiago: Highlights in Chile’s Copa America triumph on Saturday:
* Argentina started with Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria upfront. Chile relied on Jorge Valdivia, Alexis Sanchez and joint tournament top-scorer Eduardo Vargas. Neither side established a grip on the game. Messi was largely marked out of the action, Di Maria came off injured after 27 minutes and Aguero was replaced in the second half. Chile had many free-kicks in dangerous positions but do not have a player over six feet (1.82 metres) to take advantage.
* In a penalty shootout after 120 minutes without a goal, Chile’s Matias Fernandez scored in the roof of the net and Messi powered the ball past Barcelona teammate Claudio Bravo. Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero got a hand to Arturo Vidal’s shot but it went in. Substitute Gonzalo Higuain blasted Argentina’s second penalty well over the top however. Charles Aranguiz slotted his penalty home while Ever Banega hit his shot straight at Bravo so Argentina went 3-1 down. Alexis Sanchez made no mistake to give Chile an unbeatable 4-1 lead and their first Copa America title.
* Frustration. The first half was fast and furious. Messi curled a free kick toward the Chile goal which Bravo did well to block. But after Di Maria came off, his replacement Ezequiel Lavezzi had the best chance of the half in injury time, when he drove a shot from the penalty spot straight at Bravo.
* Yellow fever. Chile’s backline rode their luck with Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan. Francisco Silva was booked in 23rd minute for pulling down Di Maria by his shirt. Another key defender Gary Medel picked up a yellow card 10 minutes later for a kick on Messi. Marcelo Diaz also got a card before half-time for a challenge on Messi.
* The second half continued at full speed. But Argentina brought on Higuain for Aguero after 70 minutes. Alexis Sanchez had a great chance after 83 minutes with a volley that went wide with just Argentine goalkeeper Romero to beat. In injury time, Higuain put a chance into the side netting after Messi had brilliantly put Lavezzi free to cross into the centre. At the end of the first period of extra-time Javier Mascherano missed a long ball and set Sanchez free to rush on goal, but his shot went over the top.
