Copa America 2024 has its first team to advance to the knockout stage, none other than the defending champion: Argentina.
- READ MORE: Chile 0-1 Argentina: Highlights, stats and result
- READ MORE: Copa America Stats
The Argentines waited eight years to avenge a Copa America Centenario match in which they lost in the final against Chile, marked also by the momentary retirement of Lionel Messi. Today, Lautaro Martinez added a new chapter to this story at the Metlife Stadium.
Canada also wrote its story on the sixth day of competition by scoring its first goal and its first win in the high temperatures of Kansas City.
Chile 0-1 Argentina
- With ticket in hand
It took a close fight for 88 minutes until the solution came from the bench in the form of Lautaro Martinez, who sealed Argentina’s early qualification to the quarterfinals with his goal.
With their six points, Argentina sits as the leader of Group A, which it shares with Canada, Chile and Peru, whom they will face as they seek to close with a perfect first round next Saturday.
- Argentina with second ‘sold out
Just as with their opening match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Argentina again had a sell-out crowd, this time at the Metlife Stadium.
The New Jersey venue, which has a capacity of 82,500 fans, had a full house for the second Group A match, as reported by CONMEBOL before the opening whistle.
- Messi’s alerts
For a moment, Messi worried his team and the fans when he requested medical assistance after receiving a couple of tackles that conditioned his performance in the first half.
The Argentina captain noticed the discomfort in his right leg after 24 minutes and was quickly treated with a massage to recover his physical condition, which has been marked by injuries during the last few games with Inter Miami.
Peru 0-1 Canada
- First goal and first win in Copa América
- Dramatic scene: An assistant fainted!
- Refereeing controversy returns
