Argentina and Chile shared the points from their opening Group A game of the CONMEBOL Copa America at Estadio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro.
Lionel Messi opened his account for the tournament with a spectacular long-range freekick because Eduardo Vargas equalized, reacting quickest to a saved Arturo Vidal penalty to score with his head.
Chile looked to take control at the start of the game but Argentina slowly began to gain greater control across the 90 minutes and began to threaten their opponent.
The tireless running of Nicolás Tagliafico on the left from fullback and his link play with Giovani Lo Celso and Nicolás González caused real problems for Chile in the first half.
González, a young forward who plays in Germany for Stuttgart, had two clear chances on goal but both were denied by Claudio Bravo who was once again in impressive form for Martín Lasarte's Chilean side.
Everything changed 32 minutes into the first half. This was the moment Lionel Messi stepped up to a freekick and bent a typically spectacular long-range left-footed freekick into the top corner to give Argentina the lead.
https://twitter.com/CopaAmerica/status/1404554195961778180
Before the end of the first half Lautaro Martínez had a chance to double the advantage but was unable to make it count.
Following the restart the game again once again took a dramatic turn. Tagliafico fouled Arturo Vidal in the area and the Inter midfielder took penalty duties upon himself. Emiliano Martínez made an excellent reflex save but Chile's prolific striker Vargas reacted quickest to head the side level.
https://twitter.com/CopaAmerica/status/1404565769216741376
Argentina had the better chances to win the game but more Bravo heroics and some missed chances meant the points were shared.
In the next round of fixtures Argentina will meet Uruguay while Chile face Bolivia.
NUMBERS FROM THE GAME
• Argentina are now eleven gmaes unbeaten against Chile in all competitions (6 wins, 5 draws). The 'Albiceleste' has never lost to 'La Roja' in the history of the CONMEBOL Copa America (21 wins, 8 draws).
• Argentina has not lost in eight matches across the CONMEBOL Copa America and the South American Qualifiers (4 wins, 4 draws), despite having drawn their last 3 games. Their last defeat was 2-0 against Brazil in the 2019 CONMEBOL Copa America 2019.
• Chile drew 1-1 for the third consecutive time in CONMEBOL competitions; this was the result against Bolivia and Argentina in the qualifiers as well as tonight. This also ended a streak of two consecutive defeats in the Copa America.
• Lionel Messi scored his third free-kick in the CONMEBOL Copa América: the two previous strikes came against Panama and the United States both in the 2016 edition. The Argentine captain went 1672 days without scoring directly from a dead ball for the side.
• Chile's Eduardo Vargas scored his 13th goal in the CONMEBOL Copa América from 19 matches. He is now four goals away from the competition's top scorers: Zizinho of Brazil and Norberto Méndez of Argentina who both have 17. In addition, he is record top scorer for 'La Roja' in the tournament.
González, a young forward who plays in Germany for Stuttgart, had two clear chances on goal but both were denied by Claudio Bravo who was once again in impressive form for Martín Lasarte's Chilean side.
Everything changed 32 minutes into the first half. This was the moment Lionel Messi stepped up to a freekick and bent a typically spectacular long-range left-footed freekick into the top corner to give Argentina the lead.
https://twitter.com/CopaAmerica/status/1404554195961778180
Before the end of the first half Lautaro Martínez had a chance to double the advantage but was unable to make it count.
Following the restart the game again once again took a dramatic turn. Tagliafico fouled Arturo Vidal in the area and the Inter midfielder took penalty duties upon himself. Emiliano Martínez made an excellent reflex save but Chile's prolific striker Vargas reacted quickest to head the side level.
https://twitter.com/CopaAmerica/status/1404565769216741376
Argentina had the better chances to win the game but more Bravo heroics and some missed chances meant the points were shared.
In the next round of fixtures Argentina will meet Uruguay while Chile face Bolivia.
NUMBERS FROM THE GAME
• Argentina are now eleven gmaes unbeaten against Chile in all competitions (6 wins, 5 draws). The 'Albiceleste' has never lost to 'La Roja' in the history of the CONMEBOL Copa America (21 wins, 8 draws).
• Argentina has not lost in eight matches across the CONMEBOL Copa America and the South American Qualifiers (4 wins, 4 draws), despite having drawn their last 3 games. Their last defeat was 2-0 against Brazil in the 2019 CONMEBOL Copa America 2019.
• Chile drew 1-1 for the third consecutive time in CONMEBOL competitions; this was the result against Bolivia and Argentina in the qualifiers as well as tonight. This also ended a streak of two consecutive defeats in the Copa America.
• Lionel Messi scored his third free-kick in the CONMEBOL Copa América: the two previous strikes came against Panama and the United States both in the 2016 edition. The Argentine captain went 1672 days without scoring directly from a dead ball for the side.
• Chile's Eduardo Vargas scored his 13th goal in the CONMEBOL Copa América from 19 matches. He is now four goals away from the competition's top scorers: Zizinho of Brazil and Norberto Méndez of Argentina who both have 17. In addition, he is record top scorer for 'La Roja' in the tournament.
