EAST RUTHERFORD (AFP) – World champions Argentina showed their steel and killer instinct as they beat Chile 1-0 Wednesday to book their place in the Copa America quarter-finals.
Lautaro Martinez’s 88th-minute winner delighted the 82,000, overwhelmingly pro-Argentina crowd at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It leaves Chile, Copa America winners in 2015 and 2016, needing to beat Canada to have hope of staying in the tournament.
Argentina are chasing their third straight major title after their Copa win in 2021 and World Cup triumph the following year, and the confidence that comes with success was evident.
Despite valiant resistance from Chile, Lionel Scaloni’s team never lost belief as they delivered another performance full of grit, allied with the flair and imagination that delights their fans. Scaloni praised the work of Chile’s Argentine coach Ricardo Gareca, who took over in January, calling them “a very, very tough opponent”.
Argentina’s midfield, with Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister in the middle and Rodrigo de Paul and Nicolas Gonzalez out wide, had the upper hand for most of the game.
Liverpool’s Mac Allister said they had to earn that dominance.
Chile’s draw against Peru leaves them with just a solitary point and needing to beat Canada, who upset the Peruvians on Wednesday.
Gareca said he was sure his team could get the result they need.
