Lionel Messi’s Free Kick Goal Failed to Bring Argentina Defeat Chile

DBasia.news – Lionel Messi failed to bring Argentina to win full points after being held to a 1-1 draw by Chile in the inaugural match of Group A Copa America, Tuesday (15/6).

Playing at the Estadio Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro, this meeting between Argentina and Chile can be considered an early final considering the two teams have met in the 2015 and 2016 editions of the top party, where the Albiceleste always lost on penalties.

The two strong South American teams previously met in a World Cup qualifier on June 4 yesterday, with both playing as strong as 1-1 as Messi also scored against Claudio Bravo from the penalty spot.

As for the Copa opener, Messi inspired his team up front and put his country ahead in the 33rd minute after his free-kick slid into the net without Bravo being prevented.

It was Messi’s first non-penalty goal for Argentina in a competitive match since netting against Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup. It was also his first straight strike for Argentina since against Colombia in 2016.

Apart from Messi’s magic, Chile as rivals could equalize the score three minutes before one hour of the game through the creation of Eduardo Vargas. The player scored after heading Arturo Vidal’s penalty which hit the bar.

Vargas has now scored 39 goals for his country, keeping him firmly in the second top scorer and only lost to Alexis Sanchez (46). Specially, he achieved that record only from 96 appearances with La Roja.

In the remaining minutes of the match, both teams took turns attacking but no other goals were scored until referee Wilmar Roldan from Colombia blew the full whistle.