Argentina secured their place in the Copa America quarter-finals with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Chile in a tense Group A encounter on Tuesday night. The win, sealed by a late Lautaro Martinez goal, underscored Argentina’s dominance in the group but also highlighted their struggles to convert chances.
A Cautious Start Gives Way to Argentine Onslaught:
The opening stages were a cagey affair, with both sides adopting a cautious approach at the iconic MetLife Stadium. However, Argentina gradually seized control, dictating the tempo and peppering Chile’s goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo, with a flurry of shots. Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Gonzalez tested Bravo early on, while Rodrigo de Paul unleashed a swerving effort that narrowly missed the target.
Messi Shines, But Goal Elusive:
Lionel Messi, the orchestrator of Argentina’s offence, was once again in scintillating form. He nearly broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, unleashing a powerful shot that rattled the post. Argentina continued to press in the second half, with Alexis Mac Allister missing a golden opportunity to convert a pinpoint free kick delivered by the maestro, Messi.
Chile’s Brief Resurgence:
Chile, desperate for a foothold in the match, finally registered their first shot on target in the 72nd minute through Rodrigo Echeverria. This sparked a brief period of hope for La Roja, with Emiliano Martinez, Argentina’s goalkeeper, called into action twice in quick succession to deny efforts from Echeverria and Marcelino Nunez.
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Martinez Saves the Day:
Just as a draw seemed inevitable, Argentina found their saviour in the unlikely figure of substitute Lautaro Martinez. In the 88th minute, following a corner kick from Messi, Giovani Lo Celso’s shot was parried by Bravo, but Martinez pounced on the rebound to fire home the winner. The goal, initially flagged for offside, was eventually awarded after a lengthy VAR review.
Missed Opportunities and Scaloni’s Selection Headache:
Despite the win, Argentina’s profligacy in front of goal remained a concern. A late chance to seal the game definitively went begging when presented with a two-on-one opportunity, Martinez fired straight at Bravo. This highlights the ongoing competition for the second striker position alongside Messi. Coach Lionel Scaloni has opted for Julian Alvarez in both matches so far, with Lautaro Martinez coming on as a substitute and scoring twice.
Scaloni Hints at Experimentation:
With Argentina’s quarter-final berth secured, Scaloni hinted at using the final group match against Peru as an opportunity to experiment with his line-up. He praised both Alvarez and Martinez, stating,
“Lautaro and Julian have played together. There’s always the need for balance. And, well, Lautaro is very happy today, and Julian is too. I will always choose the one that I think is best suited for that match.”
Scaloni also acknowledged the potential of young winger Alejandro Garnacho, who remained an unused substitute in both games.
“We would love to see him because he is young and he is a fresh player,” Scaloni said. “Hopefully when we give them (young players) the opportunity, they will be able to seize it.”
