2024-04-21 14:43:14
By: Agencies (El Comercio)
The Chilean team won the Copa América for the first time in its history by defeating Argentina 4-2 on penalties after 120 minutes of a tense and very dynamic match but without the game that everyone expected.
On penalties, Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saved Ever Banega’s penalty, and Alexis Sánchez defined with a quality touch. The English Arsenal attacker, who had had a very weak tournament, was precisely in charge of defining the series for the ‘Red’.
«This is something very nice for all Chileans who need it. “The Chilean people needed wins, something like that, like the Copa América, and today we took an incredible step, we are the best in America,” Arturo Vidal said after the game.
Chile began dominating the ball with short passes in the midfield, but every time Argentina recovered it, it quickly brought danger to Claudio Bravo’s goal with combinations between Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero, although without luck in the final touch.
The appearances of the Barcelona star generated anguish among the almost 50,000 Chilean fans who filled the National Stadium in Santiago.
At 11 minutes the local team arrived for the first time. An error in the start of Sergio Romero left the ball free to Alexis Sánchez, who took a weak shot that was then finished off by Arturo Vidal, but the Argentine goalkeeper cleared it to the side.
Chile imposed its touch game while Argentina waited for a mistake to take advantage of the speed of its forwards on the counterattack. The “Roja” once again imposed possession, preventing its rival from dominating the ball for the first time in the Cup.
At 20, the “albiceleste” warned. After a free kick from the left, it was Agüero who tested Bravo, but the Chilean goalkeeper was solid against a shot in the six-yard box.
The suffocating pressure of the home team forced Argentina to have to take the ball back to Romero, who with his feet launched a long shot to divide the midfield.
At 25, Ángel Di María began a quick counterattack that was stopped by the “Roja” defense, but the left winger felt discomfort in his leg and had to leave the field to be replaced by Ezequiel Lavezzi.
The arrivals in the first half were few but the Chilean defense was forced to stop some Argentine attacks with fouls, which left three of their defenders with yellow.
Near the end, Lavezzi took a powerful shot after a move from the left by Javier Pastore, but he found himself again with the solidity of Bravo.