Copa is red hot Chile
Chile wrecked Lionel Messi's dream of a first international title with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Argentina to end their 99-year, 36 tournament wait for a Copa America crown on Saturday.
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.
Sanchez chipped the decisive penalty down the 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.
The four-time world footballer of the year had repeatedly spoken of his desperation to win a title with Argentina after winning everything at club level with Barcelona.
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."
However, coach Jorge Sampaoli predicted they could still struggle to qualify for the next World Cup.
"When you win something as important as this people start to dream of the future, but the World Cup qualifiers have really nothing to do with this success," Sampaoli.
"I have to take my hat off to the guys, they played with a lot of class and composure against a team that obviously have a lot of quality and a lot of good players."
Sampaoli said he was pleased with the way Chile dealt with the threat of Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi, who had a quiet match by his own high standards.
"The idea of the match was to neutralize their important players, including the best player in the world. I'm sure that if Argentina had got the chance to dominate, Messi would have shown that he is the best player in the world," Sampaoli said.
"One defeat, one lost final, isn't going to change what Lionel Messi is."
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