Next they knocked out Colombia 2 – 0, surviving a soggy match in Chicago that was halted for over two hours due to an electrical storm.
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“They are winners. Before we play a tournament, they are convinced they are going to win”, Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said.
“We thought a comeback was possible but sometimes things don’t work out like you want”.
The Colombian coach survived as a effect of having guided the national team to nine wins and a draw before Saturday’s historic loss in Santa Clara. The game will be a repeat of last year’s final in Santiago that the host nation won on penalties.
Mexico’s national team has had six coaches since 2013.
Gonzalo Higuain scored two goals and Ezequiel Lavezzi had one for Argentina, the world’s top-ranked team, but the real star was Lionel Messi, the world’s best player, who set up goals for each of them and also scored a brilliant free kick of his own late in the first half.
Fuenzalida put in a rebound off Alexis Sanchez’s post hit in the 11th minute for a 2-0 lead. When its defense broke down, Claudio Bravo was there. Chile played without Arturo Vidal who was suspended for a second yellow card, but the midfielder is now well rested and eager to get back to action. The Colombians’ job became even more daunting in the 57th minute when Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez was sent off, collecting a second yellow for a clumsy challenge on Aranguiz. Colombia did not give up and came close on several occasions but conditions underfoot were hard for both sides and the score remained 2-0.
When play got under way both sides produced one of the most entertaining halfs of the tournament, Colombia attacking relentlessly in an effort to get back into the match and Chile chasing a third goal to kill the game off.
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Outclassed and outplayed from start to finish, the United States crashed out of the Copa America Centenario with a 4-0 loss to Argentina on Tuesday night in Houston.
