Host Country Wins Copa America; Chile Over Argentina in Penalties

Picture Courtesy of ca2015.com

By Francisco Romero. – The championship game of Copa America witnessed 90 minutes of scoreless play as the host country Chile and Argentina played to a 0-0 tie in regulation time and it stayed that way during overtime.

Chile won the Copa America in penalties outscoring Argentina 4-1.

Neither team created clear opportunities to score throughout the game; the first half was an emotional rollercoaster for both teams as they played in a high-pace environment.

The second half of the games was played at a lesser pace with a lack of intensity.

Argentina had the best chance to score in the second half, but Gonzalo Higuain could not kick the ball into the net on an assist from Ezequiel Lavezzi.

During the penalty round Argentina was just awful.

Alexis Sanchez scored the winning goal after his teammates had scored three; Matias Fernandez, Arturo Vidal and Charles Aranguiz added penalty goals for Chile.

Lionel Messi scored the lonely goal for Argentina.

Higuain’s penalty was kicked very badly and nowhere close to scoring.  Claudio Bravo became an instant hero for Chile as he stopped Ever Benega’s penalty kick.

At the end Chile celebrated the Copa America Championship.

Chile’s coach Jorge Sampaoli was ecstatic after the game, “Alexis’ (Sanchez) penalty gave me an unbelievable joy,” said the head coach during a press conference after the game. “These players did a great job. They went out in search of this Copa. I didn’t see one play in the whole competition to suggest that Chile was not better than their rivals.”

Sampaoli praised his players and reiterated that there is no doubt the Chile was the better team, “”In terms of attacking volume, Chile was superior to Argentina.”

Argentina falls again at an international stage, just as it did in the 2014 World Cup Championship game losing against Germany.