Hear
The Argentine team defeated Chile 1-0 this Tuesday in the match corresponding to the second date of group A of the Copa América United States 2024, got another victory and qualified for the quarterfinals. The only goal of the match was scored by Lautaro Martínez at 88′. The match was played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and was refereed by the Uruguayan Andres Matonteof weak work.
Since Lionel Scaloni He is the coach of the Albiceleste, it is the first time in four occasions that he has started a competition with two victories. Previously he had never won in his debut (this time he did it against Canada 2 to 0). In the 2019 Copa América he lost to Colombia 2 to 1; In 2021 he tied with Chile 1 to 1; and in the Qatar 2022 World Cup he fell to Saudi Arabia 2 to 1.
The start of the match was dizzying, with more fighting than play on both sides. The albiceleste had more possession of the ball, but lacked creativity to generate danger. The most important arrival was at 21′ when Nicolas Gonzalez He overflowed on the left and sent a cross into the area that Julian Alvarez He connected with his left foot, but without power and the ball was stopped without problems by the goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. Then, a finish of Rodrigo DePaul It went over the crossbar and González had an unbeatable opportunity one-on-one with Bravo after a high rebound that favored him, but he headed from outside the area with little force.
At 35′, Lionel Messi, who generated concern from the first minutes due to discomfort in his right adductor for which he was even assisted by the medical staff, executed a low left foot shot that hit the post. From that play onwards, Scaloni’s team dominated the game and Erick Pulgar a center almost scored its own goal Nahuel Molina. Julian Alvarez and again De Paul tried from afar, but they didn’t get it right.
In the complement, the Argentine team increased its superiority and had a clear situation at the feet of Molina. After a great team play, Messi drove the ball through the center and gave it to the right back. He hit the near post hard and Bravo responded in a great way. After a while, number 10 executed a frontal free kick that fell in the trans-Andean goalkeeper’s six-yard box and Alexis Mac Allister it did not deviate.
Starting with the collective game, the albiceleste dominated Chile, which did not bother them until almost the end. Another good combination of passes ended with the ball at the feet of González, who faced the Mauritius Island, finished with his left foot and between Bravo and the crossbar they denied Argentina the opportunity to open the scoring. The only concrete chance of the cast of Ricardo Gareca It was on a counterattack, after a bad pass from Christian Romero. Isla reached the bottom, threw the center back, Rodrigo Echeverria kicked and Emiliano ‘Draw’ Martinez He more than responded with a rebound that was then cleared by a defender. From then on, Chile got bigger and had another clear chance that drowned out ‘Dibu’. Another center from Isla and another shot from Echeverría, Huracán midfielder, which was contained by the Aston Villa goalkeeper. Martínez’s third intervention was after a shot from Marcelino Nunez and, this time, he caught it.
Already with Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez In the playing field, those led by Scaloni gained verticality. The man from Rosario left Messi one-on-one with Bravo but he preferred the center and Lautaro could not define because he lost control. Immediately, Di María went over the left and when he tried to enter the area, he received an infraction from a rival that the referee did not charge. He also tried a set piece: the Rosario Central midfielder launched one from the left and Romero headed over the crossbar.
In the end, the champion of America and the world sought victory to qualify for the quarterfinals and the Chileans, beyond the fact that the draw was of no use to them because it forces them to win on the last day, dedicated themselves to taking care of the result. Messi kicked a corner kick and Bravo sent the ball to the corner again. In the next execution, the trans-Andean defense rejected badly after Bravo (again) drowned out the cry of Giovanni Lo Celso, was buoyant in the area and Lautaro Martínez finished with power to give his team a long-suffering victory that even had to wait for the VAR review due to a possible offside. In added time, the Inter attacker had another excellent chance to increase the distance. Di María led a counterattack and served him the ball to finish, but he tried to throw it over the top to Bravo and he managed to grab it.
In the other group match, which was previously played at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Canada beat Peru 1-0 with a goal from Jonathan David and achieved his first victory in the contest, with which he reached three points.
On the next day, the third and last, Argentina will face the Inca team at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami while Chile will do the same against Canada at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando. As this is the definition of the zone, both matches will be played simultaneously from 9 p.m. (Argentine time).
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