Argentina edged out Chile in a narrow victory, securing the first ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Copa America.At the start of the match, Argentina dominated the first half. The Argentine attack even hit the Chilean post, as luck eluded Messi and his teammates.
In the second half, the reigning champions continued to control the game but missed several key opportunities.In the 61st minute, Nicolas Gonzalez had a quick strike that nearly resulted in a goal, with goalkeeper Bravo standing still. Unfortunately for Argentina, the ball hit the crossbar, leaving the team in frustration.
Before the last 15 minutes of regular time, stars Lautaro Martinez and Angel Di Maria were brought on to strengthen the attack. In the closing minutes, the referee overlooked two fouls inside and near the penalty area by both teams.In the 88th minute, substitute Martinez broke the deadlock. Following a second consecutive corner kick by Messi, Martinez seized the opportunity to score from a rebound after Bravo’s save. However, the relief for the Argentine players and fans only came after the referee consulted with the VAR team.In the remaining time, Chile was forced to push forward into Argentina’s half.In the final minute of stoppage time, Di Maria made a counterattack run, giving Martinez a chance for a brace. However, his shot was saved by Bravo’s effort.Earlier, Canada secured their first win by defeating Peru 1-0, claiming second place in the group after two matches.
With this result, Argentina remains at the top of the group with two wins (6 points) and officially secures the first spot in the knockout stage of the 2024 Copa America.
