A few days ago when Argentina met Chile in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Lionel Messi’s sensational free-kick effort was kept out by Claudio Bravo, who made an equally impressive save. Bravo couldn’t deny Messi this time around.
A new-look Argentina side took to the field for their opening Copa America 2020 match against eternal rivals Chile. The Albiceleste have bad memories playing against that particular opposition in recent times, who beat them in the final in consecutive years in 2015 and 2016. However, Messi and Co took the game to Chile in the opening minutes of the match and were rewarded for their efforts.
The 33-year-old himself came close in the early stages of the game when he sliced a volley wide from close range. Striker Lautaro Martinez was then denied at the far post by a last-second challenge from the defender, while winger Nico Gonzalez could only hit the goalkeeper after being played through by Giovani Lo Celso.
Argentina’s goal came from the Tottenham player” driving run forward, following which he was brought down just outside the box. Messi stepped up to take the set-piece and curled the ball away from Bravo and into the back of the net. The goal took Messi on 57 from free-kicks, just two behind legendary goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni on 59. Ceni occupies the tenth spot in the list of all-time free-kick scorers.
Nonetheless, shortly after the restart, Chile were presented with a chance to equalize. A couple of tackles inside the box brought down Eduardo Vargas and Arturo Vidal, and the referee gave a penalty with the help of VAR. Vidal’s subsequent spot-kick was saved sensationally by Emiliano Martinez. Unfortunately for the custodian, the rebound fell into the path of Vargas, who headed in for the equalizer.
Argentina searched for the goal which would’ve won them the match but were thwarted in their attempts by Chile. By the end of the match, Lionel Scaloni’s men had registered 18 shots to Chile’s five, but both teams finished with a goal each.
