Chile eviscerates Mexico 7-0 to reach Copa America Centenario semi-finals

Until Saturday night, Mexico had been advancing through the Copa America Centenario full of confidence, but there was an ominous feeling that perhaps something bad was going to happen to El Tri come the knockout phase - maybe just the consequence of how the hype that surrounds the team is almost always met by disappointment.

Nobody, however, could have foreseen what would transpire at Levi's Stadium in front of a pro-Mexican crowd of 70,547.

Only eight minutes into Mexico's quarter-final against Chile, La Roja scored a goal. Then another. Then another. Then another. Then another. Then another. Then another.

By the time Heber Lopes mercifully blew the final whistle, Mexico had suffered a 7-0 defeat, marking its worst loss since a 8-0 result against England in a friendly in 1961. A fixture that initially looked mouthwatering turned into a rout, and El Tri - whose 22-match unbeaten streak entering the game was the longest active streak in the world and longest in Mexico's history - was left humiliated.

The result was historic for Chile, too.

Edson Puch opened the scoring and closed the scoring with his first-ever goals for Chile, but it was Eduardo Vargas, the player who lives in Alexis Sanchez's shadow, that showed the least pity for Mexico, putting four goals past Guillermo Ochoa between the 44th minute and the 74th minute. Not since 1926 had one of Chile's players scored a quartet of goals in a fixture at the Copa America, and the accomplishment was made all the more impressive by the fact Vargas only tallied four shots on target throughout the match.

Related: Eduardo Vargas scores 4 goals as Chile piles misery on Mexico

All in all, Mexico couldn't cope with the pressing style of play Chile's become known for in recent years. La Roja's attackers looked fearless each and every time they collected possession, charging towards El Tri's defenders like huasos riding on their horses. For all the questions over whether Juan Antonio Pizzi inherited a team in decline, Chile looked better than ever.

Mexico's defensive frailties, which had gone unpunished in the Copa America Centenario's group stage, were finally exploited. Miguel Layun, an attack-minded left-back who often leaves space behind him, didn't provide protection on the left flank, while Jesus Duenas, playing as a holding midfielder, offered little in the way of defensive effort. When he was replaced by Carlos Pena at the interval, things only got worse for El Tri.

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez tweeted in the immediate aftermath of the assault, writing: "Apologies to all Mexicans, who we didn't represent how they deserve tonight. We are embarrassed, sad and hurt ..."

It remains to be seen whether Juan Carlos Osorio, who was still enjoying something of a honeymoon phase as Mexico's manager before the Copa America Centenario, will survive the result. Tacticians have been fired for far less when it comes to El Tri.

Chile will take on Colombia in the semi-finals, but will be without Arturo Vidal due to yellow-card accumulation.