Argentina Drop Points Despite Messi Stunner
15 June, 2021
Lionel Messi's excellent free-kick was not enough at hand Argentina victory over Chile within their Copa America on Monday night.
Copa America
Result: Argentina 1-1 Chile
Date: 14 June 2021
Venue: Estádio Nilton Santos
Messi was joined in the attack by Lautaro Martinez and Nicolas Gonzalez while Chile were without Alexis Sanchez through injury.
Argentina looked lively in the first stages as Gonzalez was in the thick of things, although he squandered two golden chances in the opening 20 minutes.
The opening goal did arrive on 33 minutes through talisman Messi, who curled home a sublime free-kick that left Claudio Bravo without chance.
The Argentines could have added a second goal seven minutes prior to the break when Martinez was offered an opening, however the Inter Milan man fired wide from close range.
However, Lionel Scaloni's weren't able to store the lead after Chile equalised on 57 minutes when Eduardo Vargas headed into a clear net after Martinez had saved Arturo Vidal's penalty.
Scaloni responded with a double change soon after as Di Maria and Exequiel Palacios replaced Lo Celso and Leandro Paredes for the ultimate 20 minutes.
Messi looked to take matters into his own hands as he skipped past one challenge and delivered a teasing cross into Gonzalez in the box, but the striker headed over the target on 80 minutes.
Ultimately, neither side could discover a winning goal and were forced to settle for a point a bit within their opening encounter.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za