Argentina edge Chile 1-0 to seal Copa America quarter - final place

BNA | New Jersey  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Argentina became the first side to book passage into the Copa America quarter - finals after a late strike from Lautaro Martinez earned them a 1-0 Group A victory over Chile on Tuesday. 

The defending champions had to wait until the 88th minute for the winner. Giovani Lo Celso's shot was saved by Chile's Claudio Bravo after a Lionel Messi corner kick but Martinez was on hand to fire home the rebound, Reuters reported.

The goal stood after a lengthy VAR review for offside.

Argentina top the group with six points after two matches, with Canada in second on three following their 1-0 win over Peru earlier on Tuesday.  Chile and Peru have one point each.

"These matches are always like this, we have to continue in the same way, treating the matches in this way, as they are all going to be complicated," Martinez told TyC Sports.

The loss extended Chile's winless streak against Argentina in the Copa America to 30 matches.

Captain Messi, who played a role in both of Argentina's goals in their opening win over Canada, was once again at his brilliant best and nearly opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a powerful low drive that hit the post.