Argentina defeated Chile 1-0 in the 88th minute to advance to the Copa America quarterfinals on Tuesday. Lionel Messi had an early goal disallowed, but Emiliano Martinez, the World Cup winners’ goalkeeper, kept the score tied until Lautaro’s late goal ended an intense match in front of 82,000 spectators at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. There were plenty of opportunities for the 15-time Copa America winners to take the lead much sooner, but a combination of subpar finishing and a heroic effort from Chile’s 41-year-old goalkeeper Claudio Bravo led to a score draw.
The New York Jets and New York Giants stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup final, was converted into Argentina’s home field. In front of an excited audience, Messi and company dominated the first few minutes of the match.
When Nicolas Gonzalez brought the ball back from the byline in the 22nd minute, Julian Alvarez, Messi’s attack partner, pushed Bravo into a stop with a first-time effort.
Messi was being shut down by three men on occasion as Chile attempted to neutralize him, but in the 36th minute, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner came dangerously close to opening day when he struck from 25 yards out and it went just wide of the post.
Following the interval, Bravo performed admirably, deflecting a shot from Nahuel Molina at the near post and then displaying excellent reflexes to push a hard drive from Nicolas Gonzalez against the bar.
However, Chile had two counterattacking runs, and Emiliano Martinez had to step up big time to stop Rodrigo Echeverria from driving.
But the game-winning play was made when Lautaro Martinez pounced after Chile was unable to clear an in-swinging corner from Messi.
After a breakaway from Angel Di Maria, Lautaro ought to have added another, but ultimately, the lone goal was sufficient to give the World Cup winners two victories out of two and guarantee their spot in the next round with one game remaining.
In other Copa America action on Tuesday, Canada defeated Peru 1-0 in hot Kansas City, with Jonathan David scoring the lone goal to spark their campaign.
At the Children’s Mercy Park Stadium, Lille striker David—who is apparently being watched by Manchester United and Chelsea—showed off his goal-scoring prowess once more with a cool finish to give Canada the victory over 10-man Peru.
In the sweltering afternoon sun, as the temperature on the field approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), one of the two aides to the referee passed out seemingly from heat exhaustion shortly before the half.
Last week, in the tournament’s opening match, Canada lost to Argentina 2-0. However, in the second half of the match, Peru was down to 10 men after Miguel Araujo was sent off for a violent foul on replacement Jacob Shaffelburg, which resulted in a brawl between the players on both teams.
After a VAR review, referee Mario Escobar enhanced Araujo’s punishment for his brutal studs up challenge on Shaffelburg, which had previously only gotten a yellow card.
The result of the dismissal gave Canada the advantage in a close match, and David’s goal, which sprang from a wide-ranging counterattack, gave them the lead on minute 74.
David received an incredible first-time cross-field assist from left-winger Shaffelburg. David took one touch without slowing down and finished with a right foot finish that went past Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese into the bottom corner.
