Lionel Messi’s hopes of winning the Copa America
title were dashed yet again as his team, Albiceleste of
Argentina fell 4-2 on penalties to Chile in the final of
the Copa America Centenario 2016 played in their
early hours of Monday.
Despite playing well and leading the team all the way
to the end, even after both sides were down to 10
men each from red cards, Lionel Messi contributed big
time to his team’s failure after ballooning his very
important spot kick.
After 120 minutes of regular and extra time ended
scoreless, and following Sergio Romero’s saving of
Chile’s first attempt from Arturo Vidal, Lionel Messi
stepped up to the spot and sent his penalty shot well
over the crossbar.
Claudio Bravo then saved a penalty from Argentina’s
Lucas Biglia and Francisco Silva stepped up and beat
Romero to seal the win for Chile.
During regular time, Gonzalo Higuain had nearly put
his team into the lead in the 21st minute after a
defensive error by Chile; the Napoli striker had a free
run at Bravo’s goal, but his chipped shot dribbled just
to the left of the goal.
In the 28th minute, Chile’s Marcelo Diaz received a
second yellow card for a foul on Messi and was sent
off leaving his team with 10 men.
Just before half-time it was Argentina’s turn to see
red, when defender Marcos Rojo was sent off for a
hard tackle from behind on Arturo Vidal.
The second half started slowly with both teams
playing cautiously after each lost a player in the first
half.
Argentina’s best chance didn’t come until the 84th
minute when substitute Sergio Aguero picked up a
loose ball and found himself wide open in the Chile
penalty area, but his shot was too high.
And so Messi returns to Argentina with empty hands
even after legend Diego Maradona had warned him
and his team that the trophy was their own to lose.
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