Argentina beat Chile live updates (2024)

• Argentina beat Chile 1-0 to maintain their perfect start to 2024 Copa America
• Lautaro Martinez scored a late goal to earn all three points
• Lionel Messi overcame some rough treatment and an early injury scare
• Canada beat Peru 1-0 in earlier Copa America Group A match

Clearly, Chile doesn’t fear Argentina. And why would they? La Roja can confidently say that they owned Argentina in two consecutive Copa America finals (2015 and 2016). Sure the Chileans have hung on to their old guard for far too long, but there’s one thing Chile has always done well: frustrate their opponents. If their press isn’t working, they’ll sit deeper and aim to stop play with calculated fouls. Chile is among South America’s masters of the dark arts and that’s what kept them in the match after 45 minutes.

Messi was frustrated with Uruguayan referee Andres Matonte, as cameras caught the Argentina captain saying “dos faltas” (two fouls) by the Chileans that he felt went unpunished. Chile did not record a shot in the first half (their first came in the 72nd minute) as Argentina dominated possession. Chile head coach Ricardo Gareca had told reporters before the match that Chile would bring their characteristic intensity to the match and attempt to set the tone, despite facing the world’s No. 1 ranked team. He wasn’t kidding.

Messi was off to the side of the pitch for a few minutes in the first half. Argentina pressed on with one or two offensive plays without him, as Argentina’s trainer worked on Messi’s upper right leg area. Messi had his share of collisions with Chilean players but it was unclear what happened to Argentina’s captain.

The injury was short-lived, and Messi was back in action within minutes. He seemed in good spirits, too. Not long after that scary moment, he had a long-range strike that nearly gave Argentina a lead before halftime, and he then played right through a group of Chilean players. That last move drew audible gasps in the press box.

Still, any Messi injury is enough to raise eyebrows. The Inter Miami striker missed six games this MLS season due to muscle injuries, and had manager Tata Martino playing Messi under limited minutes. When Argentina traveled for a pair of friendlies in the US, Messi was a notable absence. His teammates at the time said they missed their captain and expressed how they wanted Messi to prioritize rest to make a full recovery in time for Copa America.

Finally, Alexis Mac Allister said: "It was a challenging match to play, man-to-man all over the field. It was a very tough match and we got the victory, which is the most important thing.

"We always face the matches with everything we have. Now we have to rest and think about Peru."

After the game, Cristian Romero spoke about how challenging the matchup was: "It was a tough match. In the Copa América it seems that all the teams play us the same way.

"We are happy because we played a good match. We showed that we are doing very well and that we are still hungry to achieve things."

Emi Martinez added that Argentina have "two of the best strikers in the world" in Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez.

Martinez, who scored the game's lone goal, also spoke afterward: "I stayed there and was able to score. These games are like that, but we were able to win it. We are happy because we ended up getting the three points, which is what we wanted. My family is here and I play for them."

Speaking after the game, Emi Martinez praised his counterpart Claudio Bravo's performance, but said that Argentina deserved their win.

"Chile was playing for their life. We knew it was going to be difficult. Claudio played a great game, but we deserved to win."

Claudio Bravo became the oldest player in Copa America history last week, making four saves and keeping a clean sheet against Peru.

The 41-year-old made another eight saves en route to another clean sheet tonight.

If only his offense could back him up with a few goals...

Lautaro Martinez went 19 months without scoring for Argentina from September 2022 to March 2024.

He now has five goals in his last five matches for the national team, three coming as a substitute.

Argentina 1-0 Chile

• Expected goals: 2.50 - 0.12
• Shots: 22 - 3
• Shots on target: 9 - 3
• Chances created: 18 - 1
• Saves: 3 - 8
• Possession: 61% - 39%
• Corners: 11 - 0
• Offsides: 1 - 1
• Fouls: 9 - 12
• Yellow cards: 0 - 2

Argentina have now taken 41 shots across two games at Copa America, scoring three goals.

Chile, meanwhile, have managed just 14 total shots and have yet to score in two matches.

Argentina remain officially unbeaten against Chile all-time at Copa America, now with 22 wins alongside eight draws.

The catch to that, of course, is that the 2015 and 2016 finals are counted as draws despite Chile winning both on penalties.

Argentina are through to the quarterfinals of Copa America with two wins from two games, but it could yet be in first or second place in Group A.

Scaloni's side lead the group with six points and a +3 goal difference after two matches, followed by Canada (three points, -1 GD), Chile (one point, -1 GD) and Peru (one point, -1 GD).

Argentina's final game is against Peru in Miami and Canada face Chile in Orlando, both on Saturday.

Argentina's striker battle between Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez is becoming a significant story at Copa America.

It's certainly a luxury to have two great No. 9s who are scoring during a major tournament, Martinez with two goals now and Alvarez with one.

Bravo may have kept the deficit at one but there's no time left for Chile to attempt to find a goal.

The referee blows for full time and Argentina have their revenge for the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals!

90+5' Argentina 1-0 Chile

Chile pile bodies forward but turn the ball over, allowing Di Maria to run the length of the pitch the other way. He rolls the ball over to set Lautaro Martinez up for a tap-in, but Martinez shoots across goal and Bravo is able to make an unlikely save!

90+4' Argentina 1-0 Chile

Chile have a late free kick in an advanced position, allowing them to float the ball into the Argentina box but their delivery is easily cleared.

90+1' Argentina 1-0 Chile

Five minutes for Chile to rescue this result.

90+1' Argentina 1-0 Chile

The goal has been given!