Saturday to end their 99-year wait for a Copa
America crown and condemn Lionel Messi to a
second straight heartbreak in a major
international final.
Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez struck the winning
spot-kick for Chile, as the hosts clinched a 4-1
shoot-out victory when the game ended goalless
after extra time.
middle past Sergio Romero to spark wild
celebrations in front of a 45,000 capacity crowd
at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago.
Chile took control of the shoot-out when
Gonzalo Higuain blazed his penalty over the bar
before Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saved Ever
Banega's spot-kick.
Argentina captain Messi, aiming to inspire the
South American giants to a first international
title in 22 years, could only look on distraught as
Chile celebrated.
Chile's win was their first ever victory over
Argentina in the Copa America.
"It is a dream come true. We have worked so
hard for this," said Chile star Arturo Vidal.
The midfielder said Chile had been determined to
win the Copa America after exiting the World Cup
last year on penalties.
"We talked about it in Brazil that we were going
to win the Copa America," Sanchez said.
"This is really a great generation we deserve
this."
But it was another crushing loss for Messi,
almost a year after Argentina lost the World Cup
final to Germany in Brazil.
The game went to penalties after a hard-fought
120 minutes ended in stalemate, with neither
side managing to unlock their opposite defence.
Chile started at a ferocious pace before
Argentina gradually managed to gain a foothold
in the game. Messi, invariably tracked by two or
three red jerseys throughout, almost played
Sergio Aguero in with a superb pass after six
minutes only for Chile to clear.
At the other end Chile came closest to opening
the scoring early on when Vidal volleyed a
deflected Sanchez cross goalwards, with Romero
diving to save.
The desperation of both sides often threatened to
cross the line, with some full-blooded tackles
drawing the ire of Colombian referee Wilmar
Roldan.
Chile midfielder Charles Aranguiz was lucky to
escape a caution for a cynical hack on Angel Di
Maria who later limped out of the contest on 29
minutes to be replaced by Ezequiel Lavezzi.
While Chile pressed forward relentlessly and
launched a series of forays into Argentinian
territory, it was the tournament favourites who
had the better chances in the first half.
Argentina almost grabbed an opener in the 20th
minute when Sergio Aguero met a Messi free-
kick with a close range header that Bravo parried
away.
On the stroke of half-time Argentina probed
again and Javier Pastore set up Lavezzi whose
shot was blocked by Bravo.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with
clear-cut chances thin on the ground as
defences remained on top.
Sanchez went close for Chile on 82 minutes but
hooked his volley just wide of the post.
Argentina almost snatched a dramatic victory in
the dying seconds with a well-worked move that
began after Messi skipped clear of the Chile
defence and released Lavezzi on the left flank.
Lavezzi found Higuain -- on for Aguero -- at the
far post but the Napoli striker couldn't finish
from a tight angle and shot into the side netting
as Chile escaped.
In extra-time Sanchez almost punished a rare
slip by Javier Mascherano but shot over the bar.
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