Skip to content

Chile defeats Argentina on penalties again, wins Copa America Centenario

Anadolu Agency / Getty

As Francisco Silva converted his penalty kick by placing it firmly to the right of Sergio Romero, a celebration commenced in Chile, complete with wine, dried fish soup, and cueca. Meanwhile, not too far away, in neighbouring Argentina, a familiar silence consumed the air, as a national hero was left stunned and a trophy drought was extended.

On Sunday, in front of 82,026 supporters at MetLife Stadium, Chile defeated Argentina on penalty kicks to win the Copa America Centenario.

The fixture was a rematch of the final from last year's Copa America, in which Chile also defeated Argentina on penalties following 120 minutes of scoreless football. Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega were the scapegoats on that day, as both players missed their penalties, resulting in La Roja winning their first-ever trophy. In the final of the Copa America Centenario, though, Lionel Messi and Lucas Biglia were the ones to miss from 12 yards out.

Related - Watch: Messi sends penalty into orbit in Copa America final shootout

For Messi, it was a merciless conclusion to the Copa America Centenario. The final was supposed to mark the night where the haters were finally silenced as he led a generation that boasts the likes of himself, Sergio Aguero, and Angel Di Maria to the Pantheon of football. Instead, he sent a penalty into orbit that may have landed on the planet where human beings believe he came from, and Argentina's trophy drought, which stands at 23 years and counting, lived to see another day.

A night that was supposed to cement Messi's place in history only inflated the question mark hanging over where he standings in comparison to Diego Maradona.

Making matters harder to stomach for Argentina is that La Albiceleste looked to be in the driver's seat when Marcelo Diaz picked up a second booking in only the 28th minute. He fouled Messi twice, and Heber Lopes, the referee who only became more and more overzealous as the match went on, issued the Chilean defensive midfielder with a yellow card on both occasions.

But Lopes tipped the scale only 14 minutes later, showing Marcos Rojo a red card after the Argentinian left-back put Arturo Vidal on the pitch by virtue of a heavy challenge. It was a harsh decision, but Lopes was intent on freeing the cards from his pockets as often as possible.

The brutal physicality toned down in the second half, and, despite both players looking exhausted, extra time was an intense affair, with Argentina and Chile exchanging attacks. Eduardo Vargas nearly broke the deadlock with a diving header that Sergio Romero caught, and, just over one minute later, a header from Sergio Aguero was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Claudio Bravo.

It was destiny for the final to be decided by penalties, and, while the streets of Chile will be celebrating into Monday, which is a public holiday in the country, Argentina will be in mourning, wondering how Messi's generation might never win an international prize.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox