Messi can’t come through at the end of Copa America Centenario; Chile beats Argentina in Shootout

By administrator1 June 26, 2016 20:49

Picture Courtesy: Copa America Centenario Facebook

By Francisco Romero

Someone once said “Great Players Make Great Plays” that wasn’t the case for Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi as he missed his penalty kick in the first round of the shootout against Chile.

The ball sailed up and ended up in the crowd; all Messi could do was place both hands over his face as he knew he had missed a golden opportunity to give Argentina a chance to win the Copa America Centenario Championship.

The game ended in a 0-0 draw after regulation and over time. Chile won 4-2 in the shootout.

The game was played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to full capacity.

Chile ended the game playing with 10 men on the field after Marcelo Diaz was given a second yellow card.

Argentina’s Marco Rojos was also sent off during the first half. Both teams played with 10 men for the rest of the game.

Chile prevented Argentina from winning its 15^th Copa America, while La Roja won for the second year in a row.

Javier Mascherano and Sergio Agüero scored penalty kicks for Argentina while Nicolas Castillo, Charlez Aranguiz, Jean Beauséjour and Francisco Silva scored for Chile.

Messi could not stop crying as tears came down right after he missed his penalty kick; a sight rarely seen.

Chile’s Alexis Sanchez won the Golden Ball Award while Eduardo Vargas was given the Golden Boot as he finished with 6 scored goals and Chile’s goalkeeper Claudio Bravo won the Golden Glove Award.

“I am very happy that we won, that we accomplished another goal, this win is for all the Chilean fans that have supported us, for those players who have given it all and have left everything on the field, very, very happy for our win,” said Chile’s midfielder Arturo Vidal after the game.

In 2015 Chile and Argentina also met in the final of the Copa America where the scored also ended up in a 0-0 draw; Chile also won in a shootout (4-1).

Chile Campeon de la Copa America Centenario 2016.